Arizona republican., 1920-09-02
THURSDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER ,, 1920
We are so accustomed to masque- rading ourselves before others that we end by deceiving ourselves.
 -Rochefoucauld.
No Regulation Better Than Half Regulation

At a recent meeting of the National Safety Couh- c it brought out that there are annually lo'ooo people killed in this country every year. To put It little more clearly: A is kled when the clock ticks off thirty minutes another is kllied thlrly minutes more dies and so it goes on day ana night the year Every year traffic laws are made more rigid. though in many places they are not enforced, killing on increasing With the daily increase in the number of automobiles
 Traffic laws well enforced probably would prevent many tragedy and accident that falls snort a tragedy will never get at the root of the matter until we have regulations requiring some de- gree skill the persons who drive automobiles.
 We do not allow just anybody our locomo- tves, yet there fewer chances for locomotive to go wrong than for the of automobile The locomotive runs it's tracks. The engineer knows what he is going the track ex- cept for unexpected as automobiles at crossings and other things which have no business there whose irresponsible movements be foretold.
 But the driver of an automobile subject to ooentarv surprises at street intersections Children may suddenly dart the road There IS a bad place in the suddenly discovered which but for quick action land the automobile in ditch down a declivity.
 When we think of the numerous disasters which turk along the way of automobiles and when we know how inepert the average driver s wonder not that a victim dies every thirty minutes but that that one does not shorter intervals as to prevent an excess population consequence of the advent Of suckers of whom told is born every minute.
 Before leaving this subject would call atten- tion to two gross violations of the regulations Which have become quite common Phoenix. One is the driving of unighted automobiles at night the other is the practice drivers of racing past street cars as they approach crossings.
 For time safety marked on the down town streets within which people waiting for cars could stand while automobiles could between the zone and the curb. intending to take ap- nroaching ear could walk into the and wait Now he must the side walk. He looks down the track sees his car coming with automobile along side in a neck and neck Both car and machine pass at the crossing together. The motorman sees no one waiting and he on leaving the passenger to wait until the next comes, hoping that then there will be and it will be safe for him to and apprise the motor of his presence.
 It would better think for the city to declare all regulations off, lights parking, speed right of way everything than it is to pretend to enforce them. every driver in this go-as- you please regime would his guard. He would know that not know what anybody else going he would be the alert to take care of himself keep of accidents As it is a driver now relies upon the regulations, orders his own conduct by them finds himself in collision with which is driven without regard to them