The sun., 1918-12-17
SAFETY IN THE STREETS.
Examinations and Bonds to Curb
Reckless Motor Car Drivers.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SCN--ST. Last
week several New York newspapers
called attention to thirty-eight deaths
during the month of November .esulting
from the operation of automobiles in
Greater New York. The cause can be
safely attributed to tho carclessness,
viciousness or drunkenness OF automobile
drivers.
! believe II II the duty OF every owne.
Of an automobile and those who do not
own automobiles to cooperate in using
their influence to have a bill passed by
the Legislature compelling every driver
Of an automobile. irrespective as to
whether he is an owner or chauffeur. to
furnish bond or a liability policy to
the amount of not less than $4,000 be-
foe a license TO operate an automobile
Is granted by the Secretary Of State.
Such bill should compel any per-
son applying for license to pass q
thorough examination as to his ability
TO drive a car; his character should be
Investigated, and any person applying
for a license found to be irresponsible
o. who has ever been convicted OF a
violation OF the traffic laws should be
refused a license. Furthermore, a section
! should be appended to the bill or a sep
arate bill passed which would penalize
any person driving a car without a IL
cense or while under tho influence OF
liquor. and such penalty should not be
less than two yeas in a state prison
without the option of fine.
At the first glance this suggestion
might appear to be an effort on the part
of the insurance companies TO increase
|. their volume of business II is quite
true the volume of business would in
crease, but by the elimination of care
less, vicious and drunken drivers Of
| automobiles the number of accidents
| would decrease at least so per cent,
which would result in a corresponding
! reduction OF the present high cost OF
| automobile insurance
AS a whole, chauffeurs OF taxicabs
| are such a type that no insurance COM
pany will insure this hazard. although
the rates are very high. The elimina-
| ton OF the careless, drunken and vicious
| element among owners and chauffeurs
would without doubt eliminate at least
80 per cent. Of the accidents occurring
| daily To-day the careful driver OF an
| automobile Is obliged to pay from 20
! per cent. to so per cent. more TO- his
automobile insurance than he would
have to II this city was not infested
! with this type of irresponsible drivers.
| 1t is absolutely unfair to the careful
driver that he should be obliged to suf-
fer for such a condition: therefore the
passage OF such a bill would not alone
protect the general public. but would re-
duce the present high cost OF automobile
insurance and at the same ulno as
sure those injured through negligence
and carelessness OF just and proper
settlement.
To illustrate a case I have in mind :
! The man was a wage Garner Gaming
| $40 a week. Through the carelessncss
OF n taxicab driver he was injured very
severely, suffering internal injuries and
| broken leg. and was taken to hos
pitaL This man is married and has
two children, and the nature of his
work called for immediate replacement
Of his services by putting another man
in his stead. Owing to the present high
cost OF living he was unable to save to
provide against such r. contingency. and
as n consequence he left the hospital
one month before he was able to do so
In order to attempt tn provide TO- his
family. arriving at his home IN n weak
ened condition. His physical and men,
| tai condition was aggravated by the
fact At his family was in want and
he In debt to an amount appfoxi-
mating $500. and was without employ
ment The owner OF the tax!cab inso-
| "a iTN1 IN m 20 NhA AANrt1i
when no made a demand upon him for
hospital expenses and the amount lost
through unemployment
Upon Investigation Il was found that
the tax.cab driver. who was also the
owner. was judgment proof: his taxi
cab was mo-tgaged to It's total value
and there was absolutely no redress for
this man. Taxicabs are in nearly every
! instance mortgaKed, and the majority OF
owners excepting the large and respon-
sible concerns. are judgment proof.
There are 10000 cripples in New York
State whose crippled condition was
caused by automobiles, and not more
than 20 per cent. of these have been able
to collect damages from the owners OF
drivers OF the cas- that injured them
although they were undoubtedly re-
| sponsible for such injuries.
This is truly a deplorable condition
and ! do not believe the automobile
owning public or the ger raj public
after learning the actual CO .!tions tina,
exist would be antagonistic TO such a
bill, as II would protect the careful and
responsible man and almost immedia tely
eliminate the incompetent, careless
vicious and drunken driver OF an auto.
mobile.
II can secure the proper cooperation
from the automobile owning public and
also the general public will be yer,
glad to have such a bill introduced In
Its proper fo-m, and l would be verI
glad to take this subject up with any
interested person. ] believe the New
York newspapers will appreciate tina,
this Is for the general welfare OF the
public and not for the selfish purpos,
OF securing large volumes of premium,
for automobile insurance.
Az | said before, II Will reduce tn,
present high cost of such insurance from
% per cent. to 80 per cent. 10 thos,
who are at present carrying insurance
and reduce the deaths and injurie.
caused in the same p-oportIon n