Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-09
DANGER Turks IN
AUTOS PASSING CARS
Ordinance Pertaining to This
Phase of Traffic is Very
Frequently Violated.
LIKE TO MAKE EN- JUMP

A group of typical Omahaps was
waiting for a westbound trolley car
at Seventeenth and Farnam streets. In
the group was kindly-looking
woman and her two small children, an
elderly woman, tired business
man" and couple of young "bloods,
with natty suits and more than usual
space of lurid hose showing from be-
low their trouser legs.
The car approached, and the hall
dozen or so persons stepped from
the curb with the intention of board
ing it when it came to a standstill.
Just then an automobile shot out
of the line of waiting vehicles on
the opposite side of the street, the
driver sounding his rasping signal.
Frightened by this unexpected maneu-
yer the persons who had started to-
ward the car retreated to the curb.
Gaining speed with every revolution
of the motor, the automobile flashed
by the street car with crash OF
changing gears and sputter of ex-
haust gas.
Disgust and indignation were writ
ten on the faces of the persons who
had just witnessed this fragrant vio-
lation Of the traffic ordinances.
An Everyday Occurrence.
"An everyday occurrence COM
mented the business man. "And what
can we do about itl" he added.
Of all the written and unwritten
laws of motordom, the violation OF
the one in regard to vehicles passing
street cars discharging or taking on
passengers is the one that pedestrians
complain of the most.
True, the driver who violates this
ordinance is in the minority-the ma
jority of motorists taking into con-
sideration the rights Of pedestrians
and abiding with the law.
The law in regard to automobile.
and vehicles in general passing street
cars which are taking on or discharg-
ing passengers is contained in sec
lion II of the city ordinances govern.
ing motor and vehicle traffic on the
streets:
Every person in charge of or driv-
ing any vehicle upon any street within
the city, on approaching street car
which has stopped, or is about to stop
for the purpose of taking on or dis
charging passengers, shall stop and
shall not proceed until said street car
has started"
Section 81 says that ANY person.
firm or corporation violating any Of
the provisions of this ordinance shall
be deemed guilty OF q misdemeanor
and upon conviction thereof shall be
fined in any sum not less than 5 nor
more than $780,"
Auto Clubs Standpoint.
The Omaha Automobile club is EN-.
phatically against any violation Of
traffic ordinances. The subject Of
stopping automobiles when a street
car is taking on or discharging pas
sengers is considered by the officials
to be one Of the most serious traffic
problems.
There Is 4 certain class Of motor
lists who arrogantly believe that the
streets belong to them and they seen,
to take pleasure in footing their horns
and ploughing their way through
masses Of pedestrians" commented
S. E. Smyth, assistant secretary of the
automobile club and in charge Of the
downtown headquarters in the Hotel
Fontenelle. MANY serious accidents
are narrowly avoided every day
through the seeming delight this class
apparently takes in seeing the public
clear a way for their cars. !,
II have seen old men and old wom-