Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-11
AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS

The question CT how to prevent auto
mobile accidents admittedly is a hard
one to solve, but the authorities of Gin
cinnati are doing their best to bring
about an improvement of conditions in
that vicinity. Thursday Judge Cos
grave, Of that city devoted a large part
of his charge to the grand jury to the
subject OF the prevention Of traffic ac-
cidents and on the same day the mayor
of Cincinnati issued an order to the
police to place reckless drivers under
arrest and force them to furnish bond
instead of citing them into court as
has been the practice In the past.
er's plans at the time the instructions
and warnings were given.
The Cincinnati authorities have been
seeking for some time to discover
statute under which persons who care
lessly drive horses or motors in the
streets could be prosecuted for felon-
ious act. 1t was found that under the
present state law all such violations
were misdemeanors only and not sub
ject to investigation by the grand jury.
AS a result there has been considerable
agitation for the enactment of new
laws by the Ohio legislature making it
a felony for any person to recklessly
disregard life and limb.
The investigators in Cincinnati. how
ever. have found that all the blame for
accidents cannot be placed upon driv-
ers and have declared that pedestrians
are often at fault
| In his charge to the grand jury
| Judge Cosgrave urged an educational
campaign that will result in men, wom-
en- and children pedestrians being
| taught the necessity Of taking precau-
tons that will insure greater safety.
| The Judge recognized that the grand
| jury had no right to take drastic &C
/ ton toward the prosecution of any
one but he expressed the opinion that
suggestions, coming from such an i'm
portant body as a grand jury, probably
would be followed with benefit to the
public in general.
The Judge pointed out that there Is
a lack of care and a failure to recog-
nize mutual rights on the part, both
of general public and the drivers of
motor vehicles. "All persons have
equal rights in the Streets" he con-
tinued. None has superior right
over the other. Yet none can claim
his right without regard to the rights
of the others. Each must exercise his
rights with due regard to the equal
rights of the others. In the language
Of the law. each must exercise ordi-
nary care for his own protection and
for the protection of others in using
public highways. We must
remember, always, to use vigilance
and prudence for our own safety and
for the safety of others. The
pedestrian must give due recognition
to the rights of the motor vehicle.
while insisting, at the same time that
the driver Of the motor vehicle exer-
else greater care and caution, by rea-
son OF the greater power, energy and
danger OF his vehicle. The pedestrian
must exercise greater care and eau
ton for his own protection. having in
mind the lawful rights of others using
the thoroughfares
This is an excellent statement of the
condition that should prevail and il
the authorities Of Cincinnati continue
to emphasize the point great good will
result. The education Of the public
along safety first lines seems to be
about the only solution Of this grave
, problem.