Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-04-21
FOR THE COMMON SAFETY.

lne StFeet tIa1Lic problem II proving an em64fra3S.
nnent to cities Of all sizes, and it is as acute in the small
city as in the large one. The advent Of the automobile
has complicated it, for 1t has developed the tendency to
use the public street as a storage place rather than an.
avenue for moving traffic. As a rule the conditions in
the small city in a restricted area are worse than in the
metropolis, for in the latter the exigencies Of the case
have forced upon the community the adoption Of reEula-
tons Of some sort intended to keep the streets reasonably
clear. and where a population reaches hundreds Of thou
sands, or millions. the work Of the traffic officer Is more
inpersonal than it can be in a small place where the cop
on the corner knows the names and family history of
most Of the people whom he meets.
In the large cities there are regulations regarding the
parking Of cars which at least some attempt is made to
enforce. There are regulations regarding speeding, lofter--
the street, Of all Of which the public is conscious. and
which, while often violated. are at least enforced suffici-
entity to keep them alive.
In the small town We have = fashion Of enaetins or
dtnances and making regulations, and then forgetting all
about them. The trouble is that many Of US would regard
1t a. a personal d3scourtesy on the part Of a traffic Off
Ger for him to apply all the rules in our particular cases.
The average Grand Forks citizen, arrested for violation
of an automobile regulation, if he did not visit President
oKeefe and demand the officers head forthwith, would
at least feel that the officer was making a lot Of needless
fuss over a small matter, and the officer would be persona
non grata with hin thenceforth. .
A little education on the subject would be an excel
lent thing, and the education cannot be all on one side.
The policeman needs to be educated in the knowledge
that reasonable regulations are made in the interest Of
public safety. and are intended to be. enforced. And the
general public needs to be educated to an appreciation Of
the TACT that all OF It's members must stand behind the
officers In their reasonable enforcement of the law.
Wholesale arrests are unnecessary, and would be i'm
polite. Most Of the violations of traffic regulations are
the result Of thoughtlesness, and not Of malice. Where
this Sc the case, a tactful warning would induce greater
thoughtfulness. and would lessen the number of viola
tions. The citizen who is rightly constituted will accept
such a warning good-naturedly, will be more cautioAs IN
future, and will give the officer his moral support in,re-
straining the impetuosity of others. If he is.not 50 con-
stituted, and adopts a defiant attitude, let him be made
to pay for his stubbornness.
A few days ago we had a Distressing accident in
which an elderly lady from out of town was seriously in
jured as a result of attempting to cross a crowded street
in the middle Of the block. Persons driving had. no OPP
portunity to avoid her. Our own people owe a duty to
our out of-town friends in restricting themselves to the
use OF the proper crossings, an1 in making this practice
50 universal that strangers who may not be familiar with
the risks will avoid taking danger, us chances.
We cannot leave these matters to the police. Let's
have 1t understood that we expect the police t. do their
duty, energetically, %watchfully ana courteously. But let's
give the police a chance by doing our own share in es-
tab1ishins customs among pedestrians and drivers alike
which will contribute to the common safety. In this way
we may save 4 few lives, and it may chance that some
Of these lives have an interest for US.