Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-28
SAFETY on THE ROAD.

SAFETI ON Th6 ROAD.
I, h apparent 10 all readers of the
current news that accidents from the
uss Of automobiles and other motor
vehicles arc on the Increase and that
this increase In more than is warranted
by the Increase In the number OF these
seonveyanccs. Sundays are prolific In
fatalities and other accidents on the
highways, due to tho fact OF so many
more vehicles being brought out
mainly for pleasure purposes; and
also. It Is evident OF so many drivers
Of cars diNegardins the plain and
practical traffic regulations designed
TO promote safety.
This II ono Of the most serious prob
lens involved IN devisdng measures to
make motor vehicle traffic as safe as
possible. Regulations fail to protect
when they are disregarded. and the
best endeavors Of thea most careful
drivers frequently are negatived and
disaster brought about by the reck-
lessness OF those who are Indifferent
even TO their own lives, 10 say moth
ing OF tho lives of others. And SO the
situation has become most serious. es-
peciarly IN thickly populated commu-
mites. and It is n perplexing question
what should be done TO bring about
reform.
In a serious and carefully consid-
cred editorial Of inquiry into tho rea-
Sons for so many automobile accidents
and what should be done 70 remedy
tho evn. tho Phnadelph,a Ledger says
The frst and most obvious rea-
son, OF course, h found in the
enormous increase in Inotor-drivsn
vehicles and IN the use which Is
made Of them on holidays. This
overtaxins Of facilities for travel
which were not created and
planned TO meet the extraordinary
demand that Is now made upon
them. The danger has reached a
point which results IN depriving
thousands Of careful people from
the pleasure OF an outing by auto
mobile on two days OF the week.
and makes their use OF the high
ways on other days a matter OF
serious risk. II all drivers
were competent and careful
the perilN would be nateri-
ally diminished II not alto
vether hani.hed. but the notor'-
GUS fact remains that far too large
q PROPORTION of tn. peopl. per
mi,,ed under existing laws 10 op-
crate motor carr are neither COM
pe.ent nor careful.
This being the case, II is In
cumben; upon the authorities 70
meet the situation by some dras-
tic and far-reaching remedies. II
IA perfectly evident that drivers
licenses are too easy 10 be OBJ
tanned the tests OF competency
inruficient, the penalties for reck-
less and incompetent driving alto
gethsr too lenient II those d.
recily responsible for the accidents
resulting IN death and injury were
the only victims II would be bad
enough. but the whole commu-
nifty In nenaced. and the rights OF
the majority. who are assumed
10 be competent, careful and law
abiding, are constantly Jsopardined
by the speed nlaniacs, the unskin-
full, the criminally careless and
Indifferent.
There needs to be a radical re-
vision. IN the interests Of public
ssxsty, Of tbs regulations govern
.nx the issue OF driveu' licenses
str1cter test OF the ability OF ap-
pl,cants TO handle q car In al
emergencies. and, what Is quite al
important. some assurancs OF thu
character and trustworthiness o
those permitted TO operate high
powered motor cars on publ
highways. II every accident. what
ever the cause. were 20 result Il
relentless and inevitable disciplin
for the person at the drivtnl
whos2, either In the suspension O
CONSOLATION without rteft OF n
Issue OF their licenso.i II may b
taken for granted that these &C
c.dents would be far less numer
GUS. The operation Of q motor ca
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