Gilpin observer., 1920-07-22
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 Ahcad-Word
Of Warning Helps.

Last year the reckless and incompe-
tent handling of automobiles in a sim
gle state eXacted toll of 1887 lives.
and thousands of persons were more
or less grievously injured besides A
lack Of knowledge of conditions, ig-
Dorance of the state of the road
ahead, and failure of the driver to
caution another, had much to do with
numerous accidents, and the destruc-
tion 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 ii imperative that we find some
media by which needless sacrifices of
life, limb and material can he reduced.
Dr. Theron w. Kilmer. a physician in
New York city, has suggested that
much may he gained in this direction
by facilitating intercommunicatiOn he
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
sign language in which display of
from one to five fingers make il prac-
ticablc for the man at the wheel to sig
nal useful information or to ask an
other motorist question which may
save much time and trouble.
Amplificat;o,s of Semaphore.
The code Is merely an amplificatioh
of the one-arm semaphore by which
driver now indicates that he is about
10 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
thai the fingers will receive full
measure of light or stand out well sill
houetted against 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 he the gamer; and his
desire has been to produce code of
such simplicity that "he that runs may
read"
The display Of a single finger means
You have Il fiat shoe" two fingers
warns the approaching or passing car
that something Is wrong with II, in
short, that the machine should be
stopped and inspected; three fingers is
the query Am | on the right road to
the next town. spread of four fin.
fcrs is the symbol for danger ahead;
and when five fingers are shown the
oncolning motorist is asked to stop
and to lend assistance.
= May Save Life.
Hat shoe Is not "A trifling matter.
In ignorance OF IL driver may ruin
tire; and the records show thnt nu-
merous grave accidents have resulted
from this wheel defect. Something
may be loose or about TO drop from n
passing car which may entail either
loss OF property or invite disaster.
Prompt inspection will save tool box
or perhaps prevent wreck. Time
and again the stranger has gone miles
sstray on the wrong road when n nod
or shake Of the head from some one
Informed might have reassured him II
on the right path. or brought him
around and into the desired highway
to the next town.
danger ahead may be nm unsus.
pected railroad crossing, a sharp turn.
3 wreck or an impnssnble or very had
road. A signal to that effect would
cause the driver 10 slow down and To
tnd out what lies before him. Every
decent driver will respond to rightful
call for help, but he naturally wants
70 be certain that II is necessary that
he should stop.