New Mexico state record., 1920-07-02
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 to Lack Of knowledge Of Con.
dItion 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 1,2S7 lives
and thousands Of persons were NOR.
or less grievOusly injured besides. 4
lack of knowledge of conditions. ig
horance OF the estate of the roat
ahead, and failure of the driver to
caution another, mad much to do with
numerous accidents. and the destruc-
tl0n or loss of an immense amount of
property throughout the country.
writes Robert W. Skerrett in the Sci
entific 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
DIR. Theron W. Kilmer, a physician in
New York city. has suggested that
much may be gained In this direction
by facilitating intercOmmunication be-
tween the drivers of moving cars. He
is convinced that 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 display of
from one to five fingers make ii prac-
ticabie for the man at the wheel to sig
nal useful information or to ask an
0the- mOtOrist a question which may
save much time and trouble.
Amplifieation Of semaphore.
The code is merely an amplificaton
or the One-arm semaphOre by which
driver now indicates that he Is about
TO turn out of line and thus cautions
fhe man behind him to slow up. The
signals are all made with the forearm
leld upright and the hand so placed
hat the fingers Will receive full
measure of light or stand out well sill
,rouhd. Doctor klmer has chosen
his position as the one likeliest to
prevent confusion. As an experienced
n0torlst, he knows how much the other
he Is not to be the gamer; and his
esire has been to produce code of |
uch simplicity that 'he that runs may
cad"
The display of a single finger means
You have fiat shoe" two fingers
arms the approaching or passing car
nat something is wrong with it, in
hort, that the machine should be
opped and inspected; three fingers Is
he query Am | on the right road to
ie next town. spread of four fin
Frs Is the symbol for danger ahead;
nd when FIVE fingers are shown the
,coming motOrist Is asked 10 stop
nd to lend assistance.
May Save Life.
A fiat shoe is not a trifiing matter.
ignorance Of It a driver may ruin
tire; and the records show that nu-
erous grave accidents have resulted
ON this wheel defect. Something
ny be loose or about to drop from a
ssing car which may entail either
81 or property or invite disaster.
'ompt inspection will save tool box
perhaps prevent wreck Time
d again the stranger has gone miles
tray on the wrong road when n nod ,
a shake Of the head from some one
might have renssured him If
the right path, or brought him
Dnnd and into the desired highway d
the next town. 7
A danger ahead may be an unsus-
tied railroad crossing, a sharp turn. h
wreck. or an impossible or very bad
I'd. A signal to that effect would
lse the driver to slow down and 10 a
! out what lies before him. Every :
'ent driver will respond to rlghtfu .,
for help, but he naturally wants n
be certain that It is necessary that 1,
should stop.