Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-03-01
THERE IS TOO MUCH
AIMLESS footing
Writer in Motoring Publication Says
Few Motorists Exercise Common
Sense in Using Horns.

In an article in the current isue Of
Motor Print, Charles Johnson declares
that most motorists lose sight Of the
rea! mission of the automobile warn.
ing signal. Describing conditions in
Los Angeles an1 Lower California
locality selected as typical, because
Of the large number Of automobil IS in
use-'Mr Johnson says:
doubt if in ten per cent of the
signaling by motorists that came un-
der my observation there was evil
dence of the proper understanding Of
what the horn is for.
Instead of giving a proper note at
crossing, l have frequently observed
that the Los Angeles motorist does
not sound his signal at all, but often
Immediately begins to sound it as
soon as he passes one crossing on his
way to the crossing a block beyond.
Theoretically he does this to give am
pie warning to the individual at the
farther crossing. Practically what
he should do is to sound the note a
quarter Of block from the crossing,
which has dual effect; it causes the
pedestrian who is about to step into
the street to halt, and gives the pc
destrian in the roadway ample time
to get out Of the way. If the horn
is blown at the further end of the
block, and remains silent when near
the crossing, the pedestrian has no
means Of knowing of the immediate
proximity Of the machine.
"For the six months ending July !,
1912, there were 1885 automobile ac-
cldents in Los Angeles in which $50
persons were injured. OF these $50
were struck or run over by machines.
There were 429 accidents at crossings
and 12i between crossings. The city
council has now passed an ordinance
defining a proper warning signal as
an abrupt note, sufficiently loud to
be heard above the noise Of traffic
and restricting the use of this to its
true functions; as a warning Of dang
er. Another ordinance is being urged
which will prohibit pedestrians from
crossing the street at the intersection
OF streets where traffic officers are
stationed, except under the direction
Of the latter.
MY own careful study Of the warn
ing signal problem leads me to the
conclusion that there is only one
proper method of procedure. The first
step In this direction is the framing
Of a law which defines within limits
of reasonable elasticity the sound that
constitutes an adequate warning sig
nal, the prohibition Of the use Of such
signal other than as warning of
danger and the prompt punishment
of the n0ise-maker who uses a large
signal as a play-toy, Such law must
not prohibit, but must regulate. The
police power Of no city is sufficient to
enable the municipality to prohibit
the use Of any public safety device
within reason. The city does possess
the power Of regulation which en- !
ablos It to prevent any article or
product being transformed into nul- |
sance but regulation does not carry |
with It the power Of prohibition in |
such instances. Then, when the city
has the power of law, the duty de-
wolves upon the law-abiding, fair !
minded motorists to unite in the mat
or Of educating themselves and others
to the proper use Of the automobile !
warning signal Once q right lrw Is
created. once motorists and non mo-
torists understand Alright the slgniil- !
cancc Of the warning signal once
punishment is known to follow, sure
and swift, upon the misuse Of the
signal, then the accident roll
will be reduced to a minimum. The
same situation as that described above
exists in almost every city in the
United States, although in less degree
than in Los Angeles, where all classes
Use the motor car"
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