The Dolores star., 1920-07-02
GN talk FOR
| MOTOR DRIVERS
Iressive Finger Code Has Been
Devised by Theron W. Xii
mer, a New Yorker.
E IDEAS OF IMPORTANCE
Srerous Accidents Last Year Were
N. 10 Lack Of knowledge Of Con-
|ai,ion OF Roads Ahead-Word
Of Warning Helps.

asst year the reckless and lncompe-
handling Of automobiles In sin
state exacted a toll Of 1.2S7 lives.
thousands of persons were more
ess grievously injured besides. A
of knowledge Of conditions. ig
nee of the state Of the road
lad and failure OF the driver to
tion another, had much to do with
perous accidents. and the destruc-
or loss of nm immense amount OF
nerty throughout the country,
tes Robert w. Skerrett in the Sci
ihc American.
NE continually augmenting number
machines and our Overwhelming de-
dence upon automOtive vehicles
ke II imperative that we find some
ain by which needless sacrifices of
limb and material can he reduced.
Theron W. Kilmer, a physician In
Nv York city. has suggested that
ch may be gained In this direction
facilitating Accommodation be-
pen the drivers OF moving cars. He
convinced that a word OF warning at
right time will be Of the greatest
heft, and to this end he has evolved
kign language In which display Of
mn one to five fingers make 1t prac-
able for the man at the wheel to sig
useful Information or to ask an
her motorist u question which may
Ee much time and trouble.
Amplifieation Of semaphore.
The code is merely an amplification
the one-arm scmaphore by which II
liver now indicates that he Is about
turn out of line and thus cautions
man behind him to slow up. The
knaIs are all made with the forearm
hi upright and the hand so placed
hi the fingers will receive II full
fnSure of light or stand srt well sill
Iuetipd against n luminous back
Ipund Doctor Kilmer has chosen
b position as the one likeliest to
event confusion. AS an experienced
btorist. he knows how much the other
How hates to be halted. particularly
he is not to be the gamer; and his
Sire has been to produce n code OF
ch simplicity that "he that runs may
nd"
The display of single finger means
ou have Hat shoe" two fingers
rms the approaching or passing car
ht something is wrong with 1t, in
prt. that the machine should be
Rpped and inspected: three fingers is
+ query Am | on the right road to
+ next town." spread of four fin-
rs is the symbol for danger ahead;
when five fingers are shown the
fOmng motorist Is asked to stop
h to lend assistance.
May Save Life.
fiat shoe Is not trifing matter.
ignorance OF 1t a driver may ruin
tire; and the records show that nu-
frous grave accidents have resulted
pm this wheel defect. Something
Py De loose or about to drop from II
lssing car which may entail either
fs OF property or invite disaster.
fompf inspection will save a tool box
perhaps prevent a wreck. Time
fd again the stranger has gone miles
pray on the wrong road when a nod
a shake of the head from some one
Horned might have reassured him If
the right path, or brought him
POUND and into the desired highway
the next town.
A danger ahead may be an unsus-
fcted railroad crossing. a sharp turn.
wreck. or an impossible or very bad
Pad' A signal to that effect would
use the driver to slow down and to
pa out what lies before him. Every
fcent driver will respond to rightful
fil Tor help, but he naturally wants
ne certain that 1t Is necessary that
should stop.