The Detroit times., 1917-10-10
Automobile Menace
n ny ~. ADnINGTONl HRUCE 2
Author % The Riddle OF Person
aiity." "Psychology and
farenthood q" etc.

Here is tragic fact 20 which /
would call The attention OF ever.
man and woman who drives an auto.
mobile.
According 10 the latest available
statistics, 1915 persons were KILLED
~ automobiles IN single year in
states. ''''N
The previous year only 2.S26 sur
tercd death from this cause. In one
year, that Is 70 say. the automobile
aeath rate rose from 43 per hundred
thousand population 10 SO. An in.
crease OF 81 per cent.
Had there been but rs moro
deaths IN the year OF the
larger total. automobile acct
dents IN the registration area would
nave cost as many lives as acct
cents with street cars. subway
trains. elevated trains. bicyt-s. and
All horsedrawn vehicles combined
These figures relate 20 the years
1914 and 1918. Complete fEures
nor 1916 are not yet 20 hand. II
seems safe to predict that they will
show another increase.
This surely is worth more than
passing thought I. automobilists
II ought 70 carry an emphatic and
sufficient warning.
X IS useless 20 argue that the in.
creased number OF deaths NAV be
attributed 10 increased use OF auto.
mobiles This would only mean
mat more automobiles were being
driven by people either temperament
ally unfit or lacking the necessary
skill 10 drive them. Such undoubi
edly e the case
Talking only few days ago with
a professional chauffeur OF many
Years experience. Was told that
-sA;-----TT--r-- v-TrrT-rTrTr fKlf been TTEe a
nightmare so him, because ~ the
incompetence II many owner chauf.
i"urs whom be met on the New Eng
land roads.
There ought 20 h4 laws all thru
The country he insisted vigorously.
70 compel every bocsy who wants to
drive car 70 pass an examination
for chauHeurs license
People take out owners licenses
and start 20 drive, sometimes with.
ont having learned as much as the
rules Of the road Until they pick
up sufficient driving knowledge. they
are danger 10 themselves. 20 other
- III : mi to-Eee.f---a-
use ot the roads on foot or in car.
riaEes
Il have met moro Automobiles
this summer than ever who neglec;
cd 10 blow their horns when nearing
curves or crossroads. who drove on
the wrong side of the road. and who
did not even know how 20 pass
another car properly This business
ought 70 be stopped
Decidedly II ought 10 be stopped
II Is up 10 state authorities 10 pass
laws that VIII put Incompetent auto
mobilists out OF business
II is up 20 city and town author
ities 20 enforce without fear or
favor laws designed 20 make our
roads safer for all who use them.
And II Is VIZ 10 every present in
competent driver and every pros
pective purchaser Of an automobile
20 acquire automobile skiH lest he
endanger his own life and the lives
~ others
This ought TO be a matter OF con.
science. not OF convenience,
n may be convenient and pleas
ant 70 own and drive an automobile
But II Is positively criminal 10 drive
unless truly competent 20 do so
n you who read these lines drive
car OF your own. and In all hon
esty must admit that you are not p
safe and sklful driver. turn your car
over 10 somebody who can safely
drive 70 until YOU have taken the
training you need
wake up Wake up mentally and
morally Don't go on trusting 70
luck Only fools do that.