, 1920-07-01
SIGN TALK FOR
MOTOR DRIVERS
Expressive Finger Code Has Been
Devised by Theron W. Xii
mer, a New Yorker.
FIVE IDEAS OF IMPORTANCE
Numerous Accidents Last Year Were
Due + Lack Of Knowledge Of Com
ditlon of Roads Ahead-Word
Of Warning Helps.

Last year the reckless and incompe-
tent handling of automobiles in a sin
gle state exacted a toll of 1887 lives,
and thousands Of persons were more
or less ~grievousty injured besides. A
lack of knowledge of conditions, ig-
norance of the state Of the road
ahead, and failure Of the driver to
caution another, had much to do with
numerous accidents, n the destruc-
ton or loss of an immense amount of
property throughout the country,
writes Robert w. Skerrett In the Sci
entiic American.
The continually augmenting number
Of machines and our Overwhelming de-
pendence upon automotive vehicles
make 1t imperative that we find some
media by which needless sacrifices Of
life, limb and material can be reduced.
DR.. Theron w. Kilmer, a physician In
New York city. has suggested that
much may be gained In this direction
by facilitating REORGANIZATION be-
tween the drivers Of moving cars. He
is convinced that a word of warning at
the right time will be Of the greatest
benefit, and to this end he has evolved
a sign language In which a display of
from one to Eve fingers make 1t prac-
ticable for the man ut the wheel to sig
nal useful information OF to ask an
other motorist a question which may
save much time and trouble.
AmpIineatIon Of semaphere.
The code Is merely an ~ampliacation
Of the one-arm semaphore by which a
driver now indicates that he is about
to turn out OF line and thus cautions
the man behind him to slow up. The
signals are all made with the forearm
held upright and the hand SO placed
that the fingers viii receive a full
measure Of light or stand e1t well sill
houetted against a luminous back
ground. Doctor Kilmer has chosen
this position as the one likeliest to
prevent confusion. As an experienced
motorist, he knows how much the other
fellow hates to be halted, particularly
If he is not to be the gamer; and his
desire has been to produce a code of
such simplicity that h that runs may
read"
The display of a single finger means
"You have a fat shoe;" two fingers
warns the approaching OF passing car
that something is wrong with 1t, in
short, hat the machine should be
stopped and inspected; three fingers is
Me query "Am / on the right road to
the next town." a spread Of four fin
fiers is the symbol Tor danger ahead;
and when five fingers r shown the
oncomIng motorist is asked to stop
and to lend assistance.
May Save Life.
A fat shoe is nos a ,trifing matter.
In ignorance Of It "A driver may ruin
a tire and the records show that nu-
merous grave accidents have resulted
from this wheel defect. Something
may be loose or about to drop from a
passing car which may entail either
loss Of property or invite disaster.
Prompt inspection will save a tool box
or perhaps prevent a wreck. Time
and again the stranger has gone miles
astray on the wrong road.when a nod
or n shake Of the head from some one
Informed might have treasured him If
on the right path, OF brought him
around and into the desired highway
Ito the next town.
A danger ahead may be an unsus-
tpected railroad crossing, q sharp turn,
p wreck, or an impossible or very bad
road. A signal to that effect would
cause the driver to slow down andrto
ind out what lies before him. Every
decent driver VIII respond to a rfehffui
call for help. but he naturally wants
30 be certain that 1t is necessary that
pc should stop.