The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-11
TWO SIDES TO AUTO ACCIDENTS

persist in violating the provisions OF the
ordinance relating to speed" declared an
automobilist who has driven his own cars
for ten years. During the last six months
so many pedestrian Navc been run down
on the streets o. ..' cay and e.,her
killed or injured Automobiles that.
the public feels rec a;mcnt against air
auto drivers. irrespective OF their char
acter, ability and record. II is automatic
that the innocent mus; suffer with the
guilty. In some cases. ana this II aaus-
cially true IN TIE case OF the automo-
ti.!st at the present time.
The public. though. is inclined TO
overlook an important fact in the prcs.'
ont resentment against the auto. Those
WHO tave not followed the matter closely
have a vague idea that many of the re-
cent killings and accidents have been
caused BY pleasure cars. Such Is not
the case. The first series of recent kill
ines can be laid directly at the door OF
autos engaged in work for the public.
"A long list Of casualties can be at
tributed to the high speed and reckless
handling of mall trucks engaged in
shifting the mails between the General
Post Office and ferries and railroad ter.
minals. These trucks were permitted
to travel at a high rate of speed. The
chauffeurs Of these trucks insisted after
every accident that they we've forced to
top speed to make connections. With
their minds set on one thing. making
the ferries and terminals on time. they
had no time to think of anything else.
and when confronted with the necessity
:or quick action their minds could not
respond because they were already busy
with one set notion-gctting to their
destination IN time.
Designating the presence of an on
cial of the Post Office Department sent
especially from Washington to argue
the Governments side. the Board Of
Aldermen voted 20 take the mail trucks
nut of the exempt class and make the
drivers Of them adhere to the speed
provisions the same as drivers OF other
vehicles. The Mayor did not hesitate
an instant In signing the ordinance.
Although reckless chauffeurs have
been responsible for many of the recent
killings, no one can deny that the vic
tins themselves have been at fault In
some cases. Although | make 1t prac-
tee to operate my car at rate or
speed conforming with the ordinance.
there have been times when l had mar
row escapes from running down pedes-
TRANS because Of their own carelessnees
and absent mindedness.
"It is much easier for a pedestrian TO
prevent himself from walking in front
of a moving auto than for a chauffeur
or driver TO stop his car instantane-
uusly. Some persons walk Out to po-
si.ion where an auto is about to pass,
stop and show every indication of per-
, uniting the auto to have the right Of
way. Then at the last moment the pc
dcstrian decides TO pass before the auto.
believing The driver can stop at mo-
inents notice. Well. the usual result Ia
bound 10 follow in "a case like this, for
the driver. convinced he has the right
Of way. has set his mind on driving past
/ tie pedestrian and cannot act quickly
enough tn prevent his car from hitting
the undecided person.
| Recently there have been many chill
dren killed in the streets by autos. 1
am not seeking to palliate the acts Of
reckless chauneurs who have made ac-
cidents possible Ivy their high speed:
hut must admit that even the most
Icarctul. conservative driver sometimes
icannot help running down children. 1t
/ =
drens.
| AN auto.st may he driving his car
| through a street at "A moderate rate OF
speed. His eyes arc open for all OBJ
! i,rts IN his path and he Is ready TO
I apply the brakes at a seconds notice.
( There are some children playing on the
/ Sidewalk and apparently there is not
! the slightest probability of one Of the
/
"Thn driver dismsses the children
from his mind and prepares to pass the
| spot without diminishing or increasing
| his speed. Another auto speeds past
! him and naturally the drivers attention
/ is attracted IN that direction Ills at
| tention Is diverted momentarily; but at
! that instant one of the children care
! l.ssly runs off the walk directly in front
of the auto and before the driver can
apply the brakes the harm is done,
IF the child is killed the driver is ac
cuscd Of speeding; but al! drivers are
not speeding when persons are killed.
| 1t does not take much speed TO knock
! "A person down and often the heavy car
passes over the PROSTATE form, crushing
/ IN the body ami death results. How
ever. the autolst is always to blame. &C.
| curdiLg To the pubic.
! "Ecceutly u friend of mine was in
VOWED IA an accident through no fault
Of his. lie vas riding along at IA SEN
s,hlc rate Of speed with clear path
ahead of h.n. There seemed t. hc no
possibility Of an accident. However
I That made him non" the less cautious
and his brahc was ready FOR instant
application.
n h,sf