Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-12-19
Recklessness Increasing.

every day. all over the state. and. it
would seem, in increasing NUMBERS,
drivers of motor cars are prosecuted
and fined for reckless driving. Reports
of accidents, fatal and serious, from
motoring are also, it would appear on
the increase, and each year large
number of amendments of a drastic
character are introduced in the legis-
lature Sometimes prosecutions are I'M
called for. The police may have been
overzealous or may have exaggerated
the speed at which the accused were
travelling But often, it is to be feared,
the innocent are made to suffer for the
folly of others; the antics of some MAD
motorist have outraged the pubic 1eei-
ings of the district and the police are
on the outlook for some one to punish
But when all these qualifications have
been made there remains the fact that
a considerable number of persons VINO
drive motor cars are not mt to be
trusted with them. They have got pos
session of a dangerous toy and they
play with it with as much discretion
as an infant might with a loaded gun.
"A minority sufficiently large to be
dangerous nuisance behave on some
roads very much as do certain persons
who make themselves intolerable on
the hunting field. They are the terror
of all driving or walking upon the
highways. They tear through con-
to take particular delight in causing
every one to scatter out of their path.
Time for Drastic Action.
Masked like highwaymen of old,
they raid the cities and villages,
brighten the aged and infirm and leave
them amid popular execraton to re-
peat their performance in the next
place. Moreover, they make their wild
fights on journeys to which it is of no
earthly consequence to any human be-
ing at what hour they reach their des-
tination. and they set up a standard of
business are not slow to initiate. No
wonder serious accident happens
often. and it is not surprising that the
accidents of which cognizance is taken
In the police courts appear to be in
creasing. The time has arrived for
drastic action.
Those who have studied the prob
lem realize that a real and permanent
remedy lies to great extent in the
hands of the motorists themselves, for
the police and other authorities, and
II behooves all motorists, and especially
the motor organizations, to make COM
mon cause and to bestir themselves to
sustained and strenuous efforts Every
motorist who has the welfare at heart
will readily lend his efforts, either in
his Individual capacity or through the
organization to which he may belong,
of the practice of reckless driving. Mo-
florists can exert their greatest in
nuence collectively, and individuals
should, therefore, throw the weight
of their personal influence with these
organizations SO that the maximum ad-
vantage may be obtained.
Cooperation Is Sought.
The opinion has been formed by the
state authorities. however. that the
best manner of dealing with the prob
lem under the present law is by ac-
tive cooperation of the motoring as
sociations: first. with the police who
have the enforcement OF the law which
Is framed to deal with offenders of
this nature: secondly. with the public,
which ask for additional protection.
Strong and effective machinery already
exists on the motorists side in the
automobile association and its allied
clubs. and it is felt that the desired
results will best be attained by the
careful cooperation of the policy of
decentralization in this connection in
order to secure the sympathetic as
sistance of the local police author
tiles
The full attainment of this object
will mean the definite esta biishment of
the clubs the recognized motoring
authorities in their districts in the
eyes of the motoring and non-motor-
ing public as well as of the admin
istrative bodies. Such an attempt as
herein suggested by the various motor
ing associations and clubs to join with
the state and local authorities for sup
pressing reckless driving would be
most commendable. for IL all such in
confederate drivers were eliminated. all
danger to life and limb through the
use OF the motor car would be con-
fined to sheer. unavoidable accident, or
in cases in which the culpaole parties
were not the motorists