Evening star., 1915-12-08
AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS
By Frederic J. Haskin.

Not long ago there were eight automo-
bile accidents in Baltimore in a single
day. The number of motor accidents in
New York has increased 120 per cent dur
ing the past year despite every effort the
traffic department can make to reduce
them. In Chicago automobile accidents
are steadily increasing and city officials
are studying the problem from every
angle.
These conditions are not typical of the
cities mentioned. but of traffic in the
United States as whole. The number OF
automobiles is multiplying at an unpre-
cedented rate. The standardization of
materials and large production have
brought cars within reach Of incomes that
never dreamed of them few years ago.
The automobile has become an essential
in both business and pleasure-and
wherever it has gone it has carried
death.
In this country the blame has been laid
largely at the door of the motorists. The
Americans somewhat exaggerated opin-
ion OF his independence demands that he
be allowed to walk wherever and when
ever. he pleases. The pedestrian was there
first and the automobiles, has no right to
come along and run over him.
kk
1t is an illuminating fact that in Europe
they look at it justthe other way. There
if you get run
Position Reversed in over by an auto
mobile you will
European Nations. not only collect
no damages from the chauffeur, but will
be heavily fined for blocking traffic In
Europe conditions are too crowded for
the worship of personal independence to
flourish. They reason over there that the
motorist and the pedestrian have equal
rights to the thoroughfare. The pedes-
trian has the use of a sidewalk. and the
motorist sticks to the road There is
time for each of them to use the cross
ines. which are carefully regulated by the
police If the motorist runs up on the
sidewalk and hits pedestrian ne Is heaN-
lily fined, and if the @ peaes,p'an atohiaa uns Gnt
either he-or his heirs and assigns-suf-
fer the same penalty.
In Europe they regulate Tue move
ments of the pedestrian just as care
fully as those Of the au.olnupiies :, i anu
In this country we let the PEDESTRIAN
run wherever he pleases, lndlet the
if he gets run over and nave
a law suit to decide how much the mo-
torist shall pay. re-.
The fact that a pedestrian may, If he
is foolish or tired of life, try TO cross
Broadway during the afternoon shop
ping hour in the middle of biock and
that the police have no power 10 stop
him would be incomprehensible to
European official.
Automobile associations, tired OF
hearing their members called MURDER
ers, are bringing out these arguments
on their side of the case Undoubtedly
they are partly right. 1t is also un-
doubtedly true that there is great
deal of careless driving and speeding
in this country. as witness the annual
toll taken by the bibulous joy rider
along country roads and suburban
streets, where there Is no possible ex-
cuse for an accident. The great ma
jority of accidents, however, are un-
due, in the first place, to the
fact that streets of many American
cities are not adequate for automobile
traffic, and, in the second place, to the |
peculiar American conception of per-
sonal independence which makes ade-
uuate regulation very difficult.