The Detroit times., 1917-10-10
Automobile Menace
nv "a. ApDINCrON nRUCE
Author ~ The Riddle OF Person
atty. Psychology and
Pnrcuthuod etc.

Here is tragic fact 20 which n
would can the attention or every
man ana woman who drives an auto.
mobile
According 20 the latest available
statistics, 3.97S persons were killed
by automobiles IN single year In
the registration area OF the United
states
Tho previous year only ESQ SUI
tered death from this cause In ono
year. that Is 90 say. the automobile
death rate ruse from A3 per hundred
thousand population 20 SO. an in
crease OF 81 per cent.
Had there been but IS more
deaths IN the year OF the
I larger total. automobile acct
dents In the registration area would
nave cost as many lives as acci.
dents with street cars. subway
trains. elevated trains. hicyt--s. and
All horse drawn vehicles combined
Ihese figures relate 20 the Years
1914 and 1915. Complete ngures
Tor 1916 are not yet 10 hand II
seems safe 10 predict that they will
SHOW another Increase
This surely Is worth more than
passing thought r. Automobiles
u ought 20 carry an emphatic and
sufficient warning.
IL Is useless 20 argue that the In.
creased number OF deaths NAV be
attributed 20 increased use OF auto
mobiles. This would only mean
thet more automobiles were being
driven by people either temperament.
ally unfit or lacking the necessary
SNlu 10 drive them Such undoubt.
edly Is the case.
Islklng only a few DAYS nSo with
a professional Chauffeur on many
years experience. was told that
The past summer had been like a
nightmare 70 him, because OF the
Incompetence a. Glany owner-chauf.
ieurs whom be met on the New Eng
land roads.
There ought 20 b4 laws all thru
me country, he insisted vigorously.
10 compel everybody who wants TO
DIVE car 20 pass an examination
Ter a chauYeur's license.
People take out owners licenses
and star 20 drive. sometimes with
out having learned "a much as the
rules ~ tbe road Until they pick
: : T-T-TvTITy KrICTrETfEp. my
are Danger 20 themselves. 70 other
tul ou }olsts and 20 people making
use OF the roads on foot or In car
risges
~ h,v. -. 49,. ..A M.
this summer than ever who neglect
I'd 20 blow their horns when nearing
curves or crossroads. who drove on
he wrong side OF the road. and who
did not even know how 70 pass
another car properly This business
ought 20 be stopped"
Decidedly g ought 20 Be stopped
u r. up 20 state authorities 20 pass
laws that will pat lncom petent auto
mobilists out OF business.
II is UP TO city and town author.
tiles 20 enforce without fear or
favor laws designed 20 make our
roads safer for all who use them
And Il Is up 20 every present In.
competent driver and every pros
pective aGyclsaSsEp,os.-a automobile
20 acquire HVAVAAUNitt NhIAk AfNN fIf
endanKer bis own life and the lives
Of others
This ought 70 be a matter Of con.
science. not OF convenience.
II NAV be convenient and pleas
ant 20 own and drive m automobile
But 70 is positively criminal 20 drive
unless truly competent 20 do so
II you who read these lines drive
car Of your own. and IN al hon
esty must admit that you are not "a
safe and skilful driver. turn your car
over 20 somebody who can safely
drive II until you have taken the
training you need
Wake up, wake up mentally and
morally Don't 90 on trusting 20
Tuck" Only fools do that