Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-12
AUTO SPEED
FIENDS KILL
MANY IN n. !.

Highways Protective association.
seems to stand in just about inc same
relation to the Joy rider as the COB
Inns did TO the bad little boy, and as
sure as fate he'll get them if they
don't watch out
That joy-riGing is a species of Grim
inal pastime for the reckless and bib
ulOus, is Col Cornell's opinion, and he
is bending every effort to have bills
passed and laws made that will Sc
cure the punishment OF such persons.
Record Of Deaths.
Here is nice record of killing and
accidents" said he, as he handed a
sheet of paper across his desk. THE
number of accidents and deaths CauS-
ed by careless driving Of automobiles
! in New York city are greater than in
! any other city in the United States or
| in Europe. During the past year, up
| to date, there have been ,l59 injuries
from careless driving and l78 persons
killed.
| I'VE have tabulated these affairs
and find that this outrageous number
of fatalities resulting from the con-
sCientious driver are few.
is menace to the pedestrian, Right
in the heart of New York city | have
seen driving that was almost blood
curdling The drivers are arrested
| for exceeding the speed limit, fined
and turned loose to do just about as
they please again. In ftac, the man
has run down an individual, and, per-
haps, crippled hi mfor life, only pays
a fine and goes scot free.
After Owners, Too.
There has been great cry
against the careless chauffeur of the
kind who takes his employers car
and goes on joy ride. Many times
this man not only destroys the car,
but the occupants are killed. Often he
leaves behind wake of injured per-
sons and sometimes dead ones. If
possible, such a thing ought to be
stopped. This kind of man is certain
ly dangerous, but, on the other hand,
what about the man who owns his car
and is far more reckless than the one
| he employs to do his driving!
THE owner of an automobile sets
an example for the chauffeur to fol-
low. 1t rarely occurs that a driver
will go at a breakneck speed with his
employer in the car when the latter
| is not a speeder himself. We have
| found that IS per cent of accidents
and deaths have been caused Ey the
owner when he was driving, and g.
! per cent while the employe was at the
wheel
Evil Of Intoxieants.
1T is generally taken for granted
that the owner has a higher sense of
respect for the lew than the hireling,
| but the moment this man gets a few
drinks he becomes as reckless as his
driver. d..
only strenuous methods will RENE
| dy this situation. When a person is
killed by a. careless chauffeur or
owner, the latter should be severely
punished. This is nothing less than
manslaughter, and although the driver
does not deliberately select his vic
Tins, he certainly knows that reckless
driving, much drinking and a conse-
quent loss of responsibility is danger
Gus to human life. Yet he deliberately
| drinks before and while driving. Such
man is nothing more nor less than a
criminal. He commits a great offense
that is being treated with a lenency
that is not only a disgrace to the
United States and New York city but
is breeder of !awlessness to boot. .
Should Require Licenses
Every man or woman desiring to
drive car should be required to take
out license. Why should the owner
n no l.,
| He is really more responsible than
| the driver. To the man who is sane
and intelligent in his driving the IL
cense is a protection 1t is the law
less man who wishes to escape the
| license.
Through recalling OF a license |
believe that this killing and manning
would be greatly reduced. If a man
kills a person when running an auto
mobile, and it has been done through
| carelessness, let his license be taken
away. The present method of retJx-
| ing a license is not farrcaching
enough.
When the owner Of a car violates
| the law and proves himself danger
GUS to human life while driving. re-
woke his license, arrest him, compel
| him to secure a competent man to
drive for him. If an Offense is com
mitted while the chauffeur is driving
| this same car, take away that license,
make it impossible for that car to go
on the road again driven or owned
| by the person responsible for former
| crimes.
Men are arrested for carrying
/ mo- ~
! many cases are not more dangerous
! than the automobile in tho hands Of
speed maniacs, intoxicated men and
! laWless persons. In such hands the
automobile becomes a veritablc jug
| gernaut, and the condition is becOm-
! ing worse every day in the year in