New Britain herald., 1916-05-16
CONNECTICUT 1o16-sXTEEN PAGES.
RECKLESS DRIVERS
 DENOUNCED BY MIX
Seven Killed by Auto Accidents in
 New Haven Since April 20

CORONER IS AROUSED Says Many Auto Drivers Consider Their Responsibility Ended When
 They Sound Horn as They Approach Crossing-Jitney Driver Held. New Haven, May 16.-Reckless driving of automobiles especially in crowded sections of the city, disregard by drivers of the rights of pedestrians and overcrowding of "jitney" cars is criticised in vigorous language by Coroner Eli Mix today in his finding on the death of Mrs. Elizabeth A. Lar1vee, sixtyfive years old, victim of an automobile. Mrs. Larivee died yesterday as a result of being struck Saturday by a passenger carrying automobile, as she was stepping from a trolley car. Frederick I. Cooper, driver of the machine, is held crim- 1nally responsible by the coroner for Mrs. Larivee's death.
 According to the cOrOner's finding the 'jitney' car was crowded with passengers, some of them riding on the running board, and approached the point of the accident at a speed estimated at between twenty and twenty-five miles an hour. The cor oner finds that it was being operated n manner"
 New Haven's Death Record.
 To his specific finding on the La rlVee death the corner adds:
 'In connection with this finding I deem it proper to state that since April 20, 1916, there have been seven persons who have died in the city of New Haven, a number of other per sons injured and two are at present critically i'll in hospitals, said deaths and injuries due to automobile acci- dents, and while 1 am aware a great many pedestrians who have occasion to cross our streets are extremely care less in so doing, I am of the opinion a considerable number of drivers of motor vehicles through our city oper- ate said vehicles recl<lessly, paying but little heed to the safety of pedestrians seemingly believing their responsi- bility ends by the blowing of the horn attached to such vehicles.
 "Our cDurts have repeatedly held that the duties of travellers on public highways on foot and by motor vehicles are reciprocal and though each has a right to pass and repass. neither can so negligently exercise such right as to injure the others and that upon approaching any person walking in the travelled portion of any highway or in the crossing of in tersecting public highways, bridges. sharp turns curves or a steep descent. the person operating a motor vehicle shall have the same under control and shall reduce it's speed Our law goes further and holds that one operating motor vehicle through city streets at times and in places where other vehicles are constantly passing and men, women and children are liable to 1all to observe an approaching motor vehicle is bound to take notice of them and of the danger of collision He cannot secure immunity from la- tility by merely sounding his horn and must run his car only at such sPeed as will enable him to stop it in
 
 pedestrian has the right to assume that the person in charge of a motor vehicle will exercise care and re- Spect for the rights of such pedes- trian.
 Should Not Ride on Foot Boards. l am also of the opinion that motor vehicles operated upon public nlghWayS with persons riding upon the doors or foot boards of such vehicles is extremely dangerous, quite drlVer thereof and result in fatality.
 Il am also of the opinion the laws and ordinances relating to speed and manner of operating motor vehicles lp the city of New Haven are not being enforced and to the extent necessary" to insure saftey, and that more regard and attention should be given to the safety of pedestrians who have occasion to use said streets Pedestrians have rights which drivers of motor vehicles are bound to re- spect, and while I am aware. owing Io the crowded condition of some of our streets, the regulation of traffic IS also most imperative, I am led to believe more attention is being given to the expeditions movement of Vehicular traffic than to the enforce ment of the laws and ordinances re- lating to speed, and manner of opera ting motor vehicles."