The Washington times., 1912-08-31
MOTORISTS
SUFFER BECAUSE
OF JOY RIDERS
Recklessness Reason For
Most Automobile Acct
dents In Cities.
very day the newspapers contain ac-

Every day the newspapers contain ac-
counts Of motoring accidents, many
fatal and others in which the victims
are MANNED for life. A large percent
age OF these accidents are on city
streets. where there is but the slightest
excuse for such accidents.
There Is only one explanation for
them, and that ia recklessness. Joy
riding is responsible for many of these
AFFAIRS, which cast an unfavorable
shadow over the industry, says a writer
In Motor Age. In many cases after the
car has been taken out by the chauffeur
without the owners permission, the lat
ter prefers to let the matter pass rather
than prosecute the offending chauffeur,
who may have been seriously injured In
the affair. Only one solution remains,
and that Is the court investigating every
case in which accidents happen and
seeing II there has been any violation
OF the owners permission rule.
So numerous are these accidents be-
coming in several cities, and so entirely
uncalled for, that IL creates a suspicion
of fear with the owner who drives his
own car and is competent to the ex-
treme, but who endangers himself every
time he goes about by not knowing
what the reckless, irresponsible driver
Is going to do. 1t is not what the own
er may or may not do. but what the
irresponsible driver will do. He is the
quantity to be feared. The driver who
takes chances at night by not slowing
up for street car Intersections and even
tually gets caught is an injury to the
community. and is as much an offender
Of the law as the persop who makes
himself a nuisance on the sidewalk and
Is arrested. -
There are nuisances on the public
highway as well as in public parks, in
public buildings, and in public thorough
fares. The police should use extra sur
veillsnce with such characters. 1t rare
ly happens that reckless driver gradu-
ates in his reckless role in a single
evening; he has had a long training
career and, while he has fortunately
escaped accidents for months or per-
haps years, 1t is only a question of
time until his turn will come, because
nothing else could possibly be his fate.
With such cases it is possible for au-
thorities to intervene before the fatal
crash comes. Were such characters al
ways alone the case would have a diff
ferent appearance, but others intrust
themselves into their hands, often with
fatal results.
The police of the various cities could
do much to stamp out recklessness in
driving. They see many examples, a
large percentage of which pass almost
unnoticed because the accident Is
missed by hairs breadth on that oc-
casion. If the present number of ac-
cidents increases the municipal authori-
ties will be investigating, and harsher
and more ridiculous speed laws and
other regulations will be the result. 1t
is not a question of more law, but
stricter observance of the wording and
spirit of the existing laws.
There are nearly every day being
committed in our cities fool-hardy acts
with motor cars which warrant deprtv-
ing the driver of his license for q period
of thirty or sixty days. Deprivation is
the one strong arm to reduce accideNts
Accidents will also be reduced IL a thor
ough investigation Is made OF every one
and II the guilty parties, whether in
jured or not, are punished by way of
losing their license or cancellation of
the car license for a short period. 1t
is imperative on the motorists, and also
On the police, to act in these matters
In one Eastern State where the au-
thorities have cancelled owners driving
privileges or car license for accidents
the results have been most satisfactory,
and the example should be followed in
other cities.