Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1913-02-26
TOO MUCH AIMLESS footing
Writer 10 Mo;cring Publication SAYS
Few Motorists Exrrcire Common
Sense.

GcIres
In an article in the current issue Of
motor Print, Charles johnson de-
| ciares that most motorists lost sight
Of the real mission OF the automobile
warning signal. Describing condi-
tions in Los Angeles and Lower Cali
fornia locality selected as typical
because of the large number OF auto
mobiles in use, Mr.. johnson says:
81 doubt if ia l0per cent. of the
signaling by motorists that came un-
der my observation there was evi-
deuce of the proper understanding of
what the auto horn is for. Instead
OF giving a proper note at crossing,
| have frequently observed that the
Los Angeles motorist does not sound
his signal al all, but often imme-
diately begins TO sound it rs soon as
he passes 3ne crossing on his way to
the crossing a block beyond.
Theoretically he does this to give
ample warning TO the individual at
the farther crossing. Practically,
what be should d. is to sound the
note a quarter Of a block from the
crossing, which has a dual effect; it
causes the pedestrian who is about to
step into the street to halt. and gives
the pedestrian in the roadway ample
time to get out of the way. If the
horn is blown st the further end OF
the block and remains silent when
near the crossing. the pedestrian has
no means of knowing of the imme-
diate proximity Of the machine.
- For the six months ending July
/. 1912, there were l,l35 automo-
bile accidents in LOS Angeles, in which
$50 persons were injured. OF these
$50 were struck or run over by ma
chiae. There were 429 accidents at
crossings and l24 between crossings
The City Council has now passed
an ordinance dc fining a proper warn
ing signal as an abrupt note, sufti-
eiently loud to be heard above the
noise Of traffic, aad restricting the
use of this to it's true function, as a
warning If danger. Another ord
nance is being urged which will pro-
hibit pedestrians from crossing the
street at the intersection OF streets
where traffic officers are stationed ex-
cept under the direction of the latter.
my own careful study Of the
warning signal problem leads me to
the conclusion that there is only one
proper method of procedure. The
tirst step in this direction is the franz
ing of law which defines within
limits of reasonable elasticity the
sound that constitutes an adequate
warning signal, the prohibition of
the use of such signal other chan as
a warning OF danger, and the prompt
of the noise maker who
uses a danger signal as a play-toy.
Such law must not prohibit, but
must regulate. The police power of
no city is sufficient to enable the mu.
nicipality to prohibit the use Of any
public safety device within reach.
The city does possess the power
of regulation, which enables it to pre-
vent any article or product being
transformed into a nuisance, but reg
ulation does not carry with il the
power of prohibition in such in
stances. Then, when a city has the |
proper law, the duty devolves upon
the law-aiding, far-minded motor
ist to unite in the mater of edu-
eating themselves and others as to
the proper use of the automobile |
warning signal. Once right law
is created, once motorists and nom
motorists understand Alright the |
of the warning signal, |
once punishment is known to fol-
low, sure and swift. upon the misuse |
of the warning signal, then the acci-
dent roll will be reduced to a mimi
mum. The same situation as that
described above exists in almost
every city in the United States, al
though in less de gree than in Los
Angeles, where all classes use the
motor car. F"