The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-30
NOT AUTOS ALONE
THAT MAKE MISHAPS
Secretary Of State May Says
Blame Is Not Wholly
on Cars.
Roth SIDES NEED CAUTION
Pedestrians Too May Sometimes
Re Charged With Neglect
Of Their Duties.
BOTH SIDES NEED CAUTION

I,tr, one must deplore the waste OF
~ AID limb as q result of highway dc-
r fsrt. and would welcome any practical
su.re.t.ou by which ii If likely TO be re-
dr-.i But no good purpose is served by
attempting to throw the whole blame on
motor GAR traffic. 1t l. true that OF the
'.tII accidents. fatal and otherwise, last
,'tr nearly 80 per cent. were attributable
90 Motor vehicles and that the proper
tYn 50. considerable higher than 1t was
90 tie preceding year. But IT is equally
'.If hat horse drawn vehicles were re
..uusible for 80 per cent. and that fact
-.-P.sts that Just as the evil IA not
crluad to motor vehicles so the measures
g." IH 'akeu 10 remedy IL must not be
considered with reference 10 them alone.
10 further suggests that sine" horse
d.tNn vehicles mainly tall under the
category OF slow traffic the remedy Is
ro, 20 b. FOUND in the wholesale I'm
position Of speed liuits, as is often sug-
G.st.I. The falacy Of the speed limit
.. f.si Il acts AS sort of license per-
WHITING the drivers 10 drive NJ 20 the
sreed 80 specifies an pieces AT which = rs
m force, whereas the safe speed IS uftC.p
r,-haps generally. function not go much
of TIE place IS of the circumstances oS-
's'Hg AZ the moment
speed limits nm fact, tend to make the
d-r.- suspend tho exercise OF his own
judgment and act under the sanction Of
IMPOSED auth .rity anf the way ~
Pop accidents is 1ut - establish artificial
restrictions which cannot meet every case,
hut TO allow the driver free scope for his
own Judgment and hold him fully re-
'n'ns!ble for whatever happens in con
.rIIe1ce Of wat he does Relentless
prosecution should follow every example
~ dangerous, reckless and even grossly
'n'onsld-rdte driving and for really seri-
OTIS Oftensts that are proved beyond
doub, the cupritS should be imprisoned
Utault be- option Of fine and should
r. prohibited from driving either for a
SUBSTANTIAL period or pcrpetually,
So doubt A. many persons complain, II
Is moro dIfticult to secure a conviction
p dangerous driving than for exceeding
speed limit because in the one case il
matter Of opinion and IN the other
i7 or should Ice question OF fact
h4f that only makes = conviction OF the
former kind. when secured. more valu'
st.c Iu4 effective than one for an offence
V.n rs commonly looked upon as purely
WON ~. and which is committed by most
motorists habltually and probably by all
OCCASIONALLY.
Those who think that speed is the great
cause ~ street accidents might do worse
'-40 consider the possibility Of estab
-s',.rg upon vague denunclations. Thor,
'e ru.~ and there should be material fo'
matte Investigation Of the subject
Presumably coronerv' nquests were bel,
'7 each Of the hundreds Of deaths tha'
wore recorded last wear as the result 0
e'~car accidents. ana a critical scrutir,
~ ..- evidence given and the vcrdict'
re' IHr.I At those INQUIRIES ought 10 show
..P o.. the accidents We're reasonably
an-.uahle to tho speed AZ which thu
-- .oucerred were travelling
7'. words careful and prudent ar
'rs'-'rd .r the law because obviously vc
N'r..s "let be- allowed to move at SOM
sHI -.lt- a WALKING pace II the! are q
-'. ''. reeds 81 the community and I
no ro.1s are not "a be hopeesslv con
F'..l otherwise an easy method o
f0.-aHr street accidents from vehicle
H. h. 'o abolish traffic