Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-08
The Motorist and the Law
By JACK LEE.
By JACK LEE.

When the west was in it's infancy there little
law to speak of, except that OF the right OF the in
divdual The length of a mans life his health and
prosperity in the community depended his quckness
the draw the cunning of his trigger finger and the
accuracy Of his sight, for sure as an individuals
rights were imposed upon, the individual took the law
into his own hands Guns usually administered justice.
Omaha as part of the west had its share of this sort
of thing.
Now that Omaha has reached the distinction of
city of the first class with regular law courts and with
city ordinances regulating all phases of civic welfare,
laws may be enforced through the legal mediums.
Just now with the reckless driving of automobiles
endangerng the lives of careful drivers and innocent
pedestrians many of the old timers thinking it, after
all, the days when wronged individual took the law
into his hands, weren't bit better than today when
long days intervene before justice is administered.
While accidents in the industrial world have de-
creased in the past three years. automobile accidents
have increased to alarming proportions.
Here are facts to ponder For the first seven
months of the present year there 335 accidents in
which 284 were injured and II were killed.
The economic loss by of these accidents, in
deaths, injuries, loss of cars, 1t is all
the alarming and calling for thought when
it is proven by statistics that at least 80 per cent OF the
accidents occurring could have been avoided had care
been exercised.
In June, 1920, the municipal affairs committee of
the Chamber of Commerce, realizing the increasing
number of motor vehicle accidents conferred with po-
lice court judges and public officials The conference
resulted in the beginning of certain activities in obtain
ing rigid enforcement of the laws governing motor
vehicles. In September another conference of various
civic organizations held which resulted in the esab
lshment of the traffic safety committee with K. Z.
Hudson its secretary
The traffic safety committee began campaign OF
law enforcement, education in safety methods in the
public schools and churches. Later civilian volunteer
traffic corps organized, with 240 citizens sworn in
special officers to aid in matters involving traffic
safety law enforcement. The organization was sue
cess. With the power of arrest and help in the police
courts of the city, the traffic safety committee and It's
safety officers succeeded in curbng the motor vehicle
accidents and even had them on the decrease.
With the expiration of the former city government,
the citizen cops lost their power OF arrest Com
missioner of Police Dunn, after taking office de-
clared he would reappoint the citizen officers, but
yet this has not been done. The traffic safety COM
mittee has been forced to mark me automobile accl-
dents have increased lives being lost and en-
dangered; careless automobile driving is rampant and
Omaha although not bad off many cities its sze
is getting black eye because OF it's traffic violations
Here are some of the reasons for accidents:
Carelessness; disregarding the rights of other
drivers; speeding and drunkenness.
Police records will show that majority of serious
automobile accidents are caused by too much corn
whisky Day after day drivers brought into police
headquarters charged with operating motor vehicle
while ntoxcated-one Of the most dangerous and des
pcable practices known in motor traffic law violations
There are careful drivers who will not drive at
night for fear of being down and injured by
careless speed maniac 1t is not the fault of the police
department. many of the accidents, in fact, nearly
all those of character, in the outskirts
of the city, outside of the jurisdiction of the police
After all, prevention Of motor accidents is matter
of personal application If each motor driver exercised
the greatest possible while behind the steering
Wheel there would be fewer accidents. IT each driver
would flaty refuse to 'take chance" there would
also be fewer funerals and traffic safety Those
who take chance get by Just so long and then
slow music and beaucop flowers.
The cures suggested for traffic ills Strict
police enforcement of traffic ordinances downtown.
Heavier fines and punishment Intense educational
work regarding traffic ordinances. Licensed drivers
Less speed and more caution Prohibition enforcement
In this enlightened age it would be reversion to
type if pedestrians and outraged motor drivers would
be forced to take the law in their hands when their
rights resspassed upon by careless and incompetent
drivers.
1t is hoped that the traffic safety committee and
it's efficient corps of citizen officers will get back into
action again. Automobile accidents increasing too
rapidly. This is not in keeping with the Onward Omaha
spirit. Omaha wants to go onward, but doesn't want
to go onward accompanied by slow music and hearses
The proper spirit it to make the streets and roads
of Omaha safe. Safe for women, children, pedestrians
and careful drivers To do this will require coopera
ton on the part of ALL "Any fool knows how an acc
dent might have been avoided after it happened-do
in advance what the fool would do afterwards is the
advice of the traffic safety committee.
1t has been proven that after man has been in an
accident he never appears in court again for similar rea
sons It's like batter who has been "beaned" by
pitcher he loses his nerve and exercises care But
why bean every careless driver to teach him careful
Jry ;pr9 Tharo no officionf 1yav