El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-03-03
''JAYNALKERS'
CAUSE TROUBLE
4 A. A. Leader Says Most
Accidents Are Caused
Bv Pedestrians.

.rs zach OF the elements Of traffie
.-,I5 he Izept in its proper place at the
r,-bt time. the big problem OF reg ula-
-=o., would Ice solved" is the opinion
- -,-esfdent II. NJ. Rowe, of the Amerl-
~. Automobile association, whose re-
-,. ,.tterances at the safety First
-cnvention created considerable COM
mont throughout the country because
The doctrine was put forward tnal tne
PEDESTRIAN must also be regulated as
y-a1 As the vehicle in bringing ABOUT
improved traffic movement. ,.-.-,.,.
The sidewalks are Tor peus7s 80 "a = :.
aud rfe streets primarily Ior Nehicles'
-..,,,-irlues the head Of the OrEanlzeu
motor car owners Inc pg~e9' "a =
should be and is sateBuardeu IN nlS
use Of the sidewalks ana uesl7 49,
crossings where he should Al al uHiee
80 me right of way. " men ne AZ
rempte to use the streets az PClt,,s
other than ut crossings lneh L7 sHv---~
30 so al his own peril r az .i's NJ -, :,
when he occupies the street p. aiS
,rhs- than Al designated crOsSlIlEss II
should bee prima tacle evidence OF go
,.areIessness on his part ana ne sIOuLu
f.s made 10 assume the responsibility
Tor mis- conduct. on the other hiiiu'
lirivers OF vehicles should have precs-
dence between crosslnss- 1hey sho !. ny
have \ right 70 expect that they " II
After all there are Just these two
iruuortant elements m traliic-Nen
and pedestrians-an DOln ontItuute
10 accidents Cndisputed records, how
ever. show that in over 50 percent OF al
accidents the fault il that OF the peoss-
trian. and in less than 20 percent ne
blame attaches 70 the venice rms
includes street cars, motor buses, ana
an forms Of street carriers Limiting
the report 70 accidents between auto
mobiles and pedestrians, II IS state9
from % 10 IS percent are the Iault OF
the pedestrian
What lessons are NO 10 learn IRON
these facts2 Vehicles particularly
motor vehicles-are now so regulated
hv law that any further attempt IN that
direction would not help matters Per
SOnally. I am convinced that We nave
so much law for the Tnotorlst that, 70
make him as safe as he can be made
as an element OF street traffic, we must
get rid OF much OF our present law
and simplify that which remains
"On the other hand. the pedestrian
as the other important element in traf-
fic. We have not regulated at all As
a rule he is not willing 10 contribute
his share TO eliminating the causes OF
accidents He IS tenacious OF mis- right
TO conduct himself as he pleases on
streets or highways, to cross where
he pleaSes, 70 stand where he pleaSes.
10 go in any direction ne pleases al
any time he pleases- And. strange TO
say. he IS supported IN MS view by
public opinion: and the old common
law. which recognizes the superior
rights OF the individual on the public
highways. is quoted in hts defence
Courts and juries have upheld him and
awarded him heavy damages even when
he was guilty OF gross negligence. His
attitude is Hit me II you dare" Where
as the great majority Of motorists do
everything in their power to avoid
accidents. the great majority OF pedes-
TRANS do not
In all fairness. what right has the
pedestrian TO ieopardiZe with his own
life the life and the liberty OF those
operating vehicles under conditions OF
modern necessity that have completely
changed the whole question Of the rela-
tive rights Of those engaged in traffic?
II must not be inferred that in attempt
lug 10 regulate and control the pedes-
tr1an II IS TO give additional license
to the mOtorist. Just the opposite Is
the purpose, which first and last is to
avoid accidents
I am fully aware that any attempt
in the past to regulate the pedestrian
nas promptly called forth sharp crftf-
clsrn from various sources But IN no
cther way can the number Of accidents
resulting IN serious injury and deef6
De reGuced to any appreciable extent"