Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-06-18
PLEA FOR SANITY
IN SIGNALLING
BY MOTORISTS
''Let the Driver DO the Sig.
Mailing" Is the Rule Be-
ing Urged.

Incorrect signalling and unconscious
interference with the drivers of auto
mobiles by persons riding either in
front Or in the tonneau has caused so
many mishaps and serious accidents
recently, that the saner motorists are
pleading for the adoption of this gen
eral Instruction.
Let the driver do the signalling.
This simple rule, if followed and
enforced by all automobile owners and
drivers, will simplify the driving con-
ditions on all the highways. Numer-
Gus collisions have been caused by the
mere thrusting of hand into the air
by a person who does not knG the
usual methods employed by the men
at the wheel. The result has been in
many cases that the automobile fol-
lowing has received signal to go in
one direction when the operator of
the car ahead was preparing to turn
in the opposite highway.
The saner motorists declare that
this is the psychological moment to
bring to the attention Of the drivers in
general the nuisance that arises
through the frantic waving of arms
or hands by persons who do not know
the intentions of the driver, thus max
ing the situation more difficult for
and of the cars following.
knows the simple rules of signalling
or learns them speedily if he is care
full and painstaking operator. But
many persons riding either in front
or back at times forget that they are
not driving and relegate to themselves
the duty of giving signals. This is
dangerous to themselves and crying
nuisance to the man who is driving
the car behind. There are three basic
signals that all drivers must employ
for stopping, turning right and
turning left. The drivers soon learn
them, but there are scarcely half a
dozen persons out of thousand who
ride in automobiles who know how and
when to give these simple signals. And
right there is where all the trouble
arises. These signals are the same
whether the automobile be the regular
approved right side drive or the left
side drive, and persons in the automo-
biles would do we'll to refrain from
trying to give these signals them
selves. They should be asked or told
to let the driver do the signalling.
So many persons are ignorant of
the simple rules that they infrequently
poke out their hands and indicate a
right turn when the chauffeur is 60
ing to make left turn, or they give
erratc directions when the driver is
intending to halt. 1t is no uncommon
sight to see three or four arms in the
air all giving different signs. Any
day in the crowded traffic of Fifth
avenue or on the highways one may
see numerous hands or arms stuck
suddenly out of the cars. Some will
indicate one direction and some will
designate another, with the result that
it is worse than if no signal had been
given. 1t is impossible for the opera
tor of the automobile behind to know
which is the hand that is to be obeyed.
The worse nuisance to the operators
of the automobiles trailing is the
hysterical thrusting of hands into the
air or to the side, indicating a stop
when the driver is merely easing up
and no signal is needed.
Signalling by numerous persons, and
persons ignorant Of proper signals, is
as useless as it is confusing. No mat
drive or left drive, the chauffeur of
CllC Cal 4OllOWIuS SesA e$tVeAyo ~ viz
hand of the chauffeur ahead, if he is
a car length in the rear The line of
vision is perfectly clear even if the
first car should happen to be a left
drive limousine and the following car
ripht drive. The chauffeurs, drivers
or owners are far more capable of
giving correct signals than the per-
sons in the tonneau.
Observance of the plea could not be
put into effect at better time than
the present, just on the eve of the
summer touring and the summer
crowding to the seashore in the hot
nights. BY allowing the driver, who
knows always which way he wants to
go, to give the signals may be the
means Of saving few lives or very
many dollars in smashing tenders,
gasolene tanks, lamps or other parts
Of the rear of the automobile.