Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-08-14
FRIDAY, AUGUST IA, 1914.
MAKE AUTOMOBILING SAFER.

MANI n u YIN OAI
There can be only commentator for
Guy W. Bailey, Secretary of State, in
the position which he has taken with
reference to the suspension of licenses
of automobile drivers, where there is
presumptive evidence of such drivers
being incompetent or for other reasons
improper persons to handle automobiles.
The s. cretary of State has taken cog
nizance of the case of one driver
in Fair Haven who, within month,
was implicated in two accidents, one of
which did not result in fatality or
more simply by miracle.
The Secretary of State logically takes
the ground that any automobilist to
or otherwise, happen in a short space
of time deserves investigation, at least
The driver in the particular instance
noted, may be competent, and blame
less for the two accidents. In any
event, he should be required to prove
his competency to the satisfaction of
the official who issues the license; and
he will now have opportunity to do so if
he cares to resume operation of motor
car.
The driving of an automobile is ser-
GUS business and with the multiplication
of machines at least ordinary skill and
care are required. Sobriety should be
an absolute prerequisite. If any driver
is known to be habitually hard drinker
he should under no circumstances be
permitted to operate motor car.
Secretary of State Bailey is appeal
ing to the local officers throughout the
State to show greater activity in the
promotion of safety of automobiling,
He states that local officials are lax in
reporting accidents and he has forward
ed to each constable and police officer
in the State letter asking them to re-
port to him any accident that may &C.
cur in their respective jurisdictions.
By this course of procedure an imme-
date investigation cam be asked for.
A record will be made of each accident
in which any person is concerned so that
in case the investigation warrants it,
the drivers license can be suspended.
In the case of the more serious acct
dents, it would be a good plan to sus-
pend the drivers license Immediately
upon official report of the accident,
pending an investigation, and local
officials are in the very best position to
advise the secretary of state as to
whether such action is justified
Automobile casualties are of alto
gether too frequent occurances in Ver-
mont, as well as elsewhere. The rem
edy is in prompt action of the officers of
the law so that the small percentage of
careless, reckless or inebriate drivers
may know with absolute certainty that
their privilege will be withdrawn i'm
mediately following any accident for
which they are responsible. A large
number of accidents in the aggregate
will happen if the utmost care and best
judgment is used on the part of both
the officials and automobilists them
selves. But the elimination from the
roads of automobiles who are improper
persons to drive cars will greatly reduce
the number of accidents.
Those most concerned in making
automobiling safe are the automobiles
themselves, the large majority of whom
are both competent and careful. There
will be very general appreciation of the
course of the Secretary of State Bailey
in his rational efforts to make automo-
bling safer. Rutland News.