The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-07-27
RIuESWT THE ROAD
(By MITCHELL MAY, New York City,
From Southern Good Roads.
From Southern Good Roads.

The subject of accidents upon the$
public highways. always an interest
ing one, is just now receiving much at
tention upon the part Of the press and
public.
OF course, any kind Of locomotion
whether by and or sea or in the air
has it's peculiar dangers, but as the
public highway is SO Intimately and
continuously connected with every
ones life accidents upon it receive a
larger share Of attention than mis-
haps at sea or collisions on the rail-
ways, or any other form or accident
not connected with the highway.
The public mind in this matter is
largely guided by the amount of
prominence given to accidents, and
just now motor car accidents excite
it more than any other kind, and,
therefore, receive greater prominence.
To begin with every good driver
upon the road, whether of horses or
motor cars, should thoroughly grasp
the fundamental fact that the pedes-
trian has in some places greater
rights, in others an equal, and in still
others an inferior right on the road
in relation to wheeled traffic, and he
is supposed to take reasonable care Of
himself and see that he does not reck-
lessly incur dangers to himself and
others.
In this country we often laugh at
the fact that in France a man may
be prosecuted for being in Their DAD
and being knocked down by a passing
vehicle. This, of course, is an ex-
IRENE case upon the other side Of the
question.
There are dangers which the motor
car driver incur every time he drives
along a highway which are not in the
nature of common ones. AS gener-
ally understood, common dangers, for
instance, include the chance Of COLI
sion with other vehicles at cross roads,
Of skidding on a slippery pavement,
and many other well-known risks
which vary according to the traffic,
the conditions Of the road and wealth
err and many other circumstance
which need not be considered here.
The driver of a motor car, however,
who aspires to a clean record in the
matter Of accidents has to be more
than ordinarily alert. He has to exer-
else in a special degree the quality Of
f~orethought and train himself to cal
culate beforehand what is likely to
happen under certain circumstance
which may, at first sight, appears
unlikely.
1t is foolish to imagine tina the dan
| gers of the road can be entirely elimi.
. mated or hat any form Of locomotior
r can become absolutely safe as regard
other users Of the highways. But
mental alertness while driving a mo.
, tor car upon the highways has become
! more than ever essential, if the driver
would be a true master Of his craft
a and the maxim that it is the unex
pected that often happens. should al
q ways be present in the minds Of tn,
: drivers.
: Foresight and caution are in tn
case Of many well-known and goot
"a 1 n " n = r hut h = ~ :; ~
motorist can acquire these two fea
lures by setting his mind to do so.
q AS regards the general public, tn
widespread ignorance and apathy a
n to the rules of the road is one Of tn
most unsatisfactory features manifest
ed on our highways today. When on
mOtOrist encounters, as he will inva
riably do, nearly one-third of tn
s vehicular traffic upon the wrong sid
is Of the road he must not allow himsel
n to become irritated at the apparent
deliberate perversity Of h averag
driver Of slow vehicles. These driv
Or ers do not know or care.
3 AS a remedy for this almost uni
versal breaking Of the rules Of tn
road there is a reform which is nc
only desirable, but practical. TIL
lie rules of the road and the dangers c
j. the traffic should be taught in ever
70 elementary school in the country.
There are probably no children ur
der the age Of 10 or II years an
~ comparatively few grownups VIII
cOuld give an intelligent answer t
of the questions as to how to cross
~ road, on which side to drive and wall
or where to look for special hangers
A dozen or so simple rules illu.
:. trated by plain diagrams would in
g very few lessons convey to the min
OF the average school and impri,
upon his emo for life the best WE
IN or avoiding the undoubtedly increa,
n. ing dangers Of h street and OF mai
and cross roads alike.
Of While the pedestrian, as stated
Of the outset, has certain special riobt
al there is no reason to believe that II
at majority Of those who walk upon II
IN are so intOlerant and seIfs
as to wish to carse an nnnnoa.aa,