Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-27
VIGOROUS ACTION
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
Chief Black Issues Warning to
Reckless Auto Drivers; Two
Fined This Morning.

Chief of Police George Black today
authorized the following warning:
Ito those who are sufficiently interested
in their safety and the safety Of their
children while on our public streets, want
90 say that the Police Department is gong
to do all in its power To prosecute auto
mobile drivers who are evidently reckless
and drive in defiance Of the safety of others,
either pedestrians, children or other
drivers, and violate our city traffic
ordinance. Reckless driving on Whining
ton streets has got to stop and while
the Police Department will be fair in
every way to the drivers Of automobiles,
it Is charged with the protection Of the
public and il intends to protect the public
10 the utmost extent within its power
On Thursday. Nav 10, at the special
meeting called BY the Delaware Safety
Council, Public Safety Committee, TO
discuss the prevention Of automobile
accidents which have lately shown an
alarming increase. members of the Vigil
ance Committee present pledged them
selves TO appear in court, It necessary, IN
order to prosecute reckless drivers. Here
tofore. it has been the practice Of the
Vigilance Committee 10 address . court
eous letter TO the owner Of the car in
question. calling his attention 10 the re-
ported violation and urging him 10 Co
operate IN the protection Of the public
on our streets bv driving mere carefully
in the future Over 400 such letters have
been sent out and have doubtless helped
to improve Wilmington traffic conditions.
The Delaware Safety Council felt, how
ever. that more rigorous methods would
have to be taken il reckless and ignorant
n l.
In line with this action OF the Council
l.. A. Blois. president of the Delaware
Safety Council. appeared in the City
Court today before Deputy Judge Aaron
Finger in two traffic cases.
Harry Cannon colored. driving truck
for the Bird Transfer was charged with
violating the traffic ordinance requiring
caution in the backing Of cars. This otfense
occurred on Third street between kng
and Market on May "a.
Nolan Fisher, colored. driving heavy
moving van belonging to James , Lowe,
was charged with violating the ordinance
requiring care and slackenng of speed
when turning into an intersectIng street.
This offense was committed at Futh and
French streets. also on MAY "A.
Cannon was fined $50 and costs and
Fisher, SIS and costs Both were also
sternly reprimanded by the court
In neither case was the driver identified
BY Mr.. De Blois He merely took the
license number Of the machines, reported
them TO the police, and detectives later
found and identified the drivers
The above cases are clear indication
and warning 10 reckless drivers that the
Delaware Safety Council the Municipal
Court authorities and the police mean
business and that every reasonable
effort will be- made henceforth to reduce
the number of serious automobile accl-
dents occurring almost daily IN Whining
ton
The Safety Council reports that between
March ] and MAY Is a record Of Il9
automobile accidents four Of which
resulted in death, and 81 more or less
serious INJURY TO drivers or pedestrians
Two-thirds OF these accidents occurred al
street intersections where pedestrians
are assumed to have the right Of way q
cross in safety