The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-26
By CLYDE W. ENNIS

INOR the purpose of taking some ae
ton designed TO train automobile
L drivers how to pass safely DOWN
town and to certain extent lessen the
dangers of downtown traffic a meetinf
of automobile dealers will be held next
week. Plans have been under way during
the week to discuss some traffic rules
which will act in a measure as a precau-
tion and safeguard against the dangers
that beset anyone travelling on the down.
town streets. The persons interested in
clude: w. b. Red" Smith of the Cadillac
company, Tomnie Morris. Jr., of the
same company Edward z'atillo of the
Oakland agency. Ted Brownell OF the
Ford. Judge Dan Greene of the Stude-
baker Lee Whitehead of the oldsmobile
Buick and Marmon as well as other auto
mobile dealers.
1t is the tentative plan to have meet
ing at which discussion will come up
of certain laws that should be enacted
s by the commissioners as to traffic regu-
ilations downtown 1t Is proposed TO
have such laws enacted as will train
drivers how to approach crossings. warn
cars in the rear as to stops and for
wards how to pass and repass street
cars, and how to pass over street inter-
sections without causing furry OF ex-
citement and the attendant alarm on tne
part of the pedestrians.
The proposed meeting is the outcome of
a suggestion made in this column last
Sunday that something should, ana must
be done to keep down the number OF ac-
cidents downtown and elsewhere. The
dangers that beset pedestrians In the
busy centers and the children of the out
lying section has been the subject of con-
siderable thought by well known auto
mobile dealers and they are trying to
get a line upon what is the best means
of uprooting the trouble. Education, II
seems to those interested, is the best
agency and to educate the drivers is the
ambitious plan of those who are expected
TO discuss the question during the forth
coming week.
If the automobile dealers here draft
a set of automobile traffice laws as they
sre expected to do, those laws will be
given. to the commission for adoption at
Il meeting as soon as the rules are out
lined. That law will perhaps precede the
application from automobile dealers of
tie appointment of board of examiners
TO examine all drivers in Birmingham
The examination conducted by the state
is woefullyi inadequate to protect the
people, and to meet the demands that are
made upon drivers. They can secure a
license without any trouble whatever. 1t
is the ambition OF local persons interested
pointed to examine the applicants that
will have authority to cancel the license
without explanation for any infraction of
the traffic laws downtown.
The details of the proposed rules and
regulations as we'll as the details of the
board ofSexamners is in the infant stage
at this time and very little can he eN-
'plained about them. However, it is be-
lieyed that by the adoption of the traf-
fic laws as they appear to expert auto
mobiists and the appointment of
board of examiners the trouble here Will
be in a measure relieved.
Mr.. Smith, who suggested the adoption
of the traffic laws and the appointment
o. the examining board, said yesterday:
II belAave the commission would per
form eise service and would find the
people grateful for the adoption of traf-
fic laws and the appointment of this pro-
posed examining board. The need for
the two propositions in Birmingham is
very pressing, and l hope the automo-
bilists of Birmingham will become awak-
ened to this pressing need and give the
expression of their views to those v no
are to meet and determine what is best
10 be done. The examining bord will
restrain uninteligent AMI untrustworthy
will lend an importance and responsible
fly to drivers which will be for the best
interest of all the people, As the situa-
tion is now the drivers are responsible
10 no one for any risks they may take.
provided something less than a killing oc-
ours. | am heartily in favor of this
scheme, and hope the persons Interested
will give us an expression of their views
upon the matter"