The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-11-28
METHOD TO END AUTO SLAYINGS
STILL REMAINS TO BE DEVISED.

| Announcement by the census bureau
of a great increase in the number Of
| fatalities due to automobile travel has
/ empha sized the fact that no method
whereby such killings can be reduced or
checked has as yet been suggested.
Strict enforcement of all existing laws,
and prison sentences help, but the later
seldom are put into effect. editors
argue and they seem convinced that
until pedestrian and autoist get togeth-
err for a campaign of mutual coopera-
ton noticeable relief hardly can be
| looked for.
I'm the face Of this growing prob
lem says the Newark News, (which
is the more poignant because the annual
| toll is composed largely of children, we
have been helpless thus far. Our traf-
! fic organizations, our persistent publicity
as to the dangers of the roads and the
| streets, both for motorists and for the
victims of motors. have thus far failed
! to keep down the growth of accidents due
| to motorized vehicles stable, even
when the growth Of accidents due to
motored." There is great difficulty in
suggesting any real remedy, in the
opinion of the Canton News, because
the human element is the chief fac
tor in all the efforts at conservation of
life," and the News points out that as
long as all safety precautions are sys-
tematicaIly disregarded no change can
be expected. Until drastic penalties for
carelessness and negligence are imposed
by courts the Pittsburgh Gazette-Tlmes
holds 'it will be- q Credulous person
who will expect fatal accidents to be
diminished" 1t is. however, the view
of the ST. Paul Dispatch that, while
fatal accidents show an increase of IS
per cent between 1911 and 1921, ac-
cording to the report OF the census bu-
reau," the Statement takes no account
of the great increase in the number OF
cars used in the same period" which
also is of very great Importance to
proper understanding of the situation.
Because safety devices to date ARE
still crude and unsatisfactory" the
Milwaukee Sentinel agrees that "the
necessity for unceasing vigilance and
constant maintenance Of every safety
effort becomes more apparent" One
excellent method along this line, the
Boston Post holds, Is that parents
must teach their children how to avoid
street perils," and communities must
provide suitable playing grounds. There
is nothing better, nothing more hu-
name, than the latter. Our boys and
girls must be saved from death on the
public roads" Endorsing this idea in
every way the Columbus Ohio State
Journal also feels that "the individual
driver must take n firmer grasp on his
responsibilities Amplifying this the
Albany KnickerboclSer Press points out
that tho only way to safety for all
lies in the absolute refusal Of every man
or woman at the wheel Of an automo-
bile to permit the car to move into
any predicament in which there should
be danger. One can skate over thin ice
thousand times, but 1t Is on the thou
sand and first attempt that trouble
comes and crushed and broken bodies
are frequently past mending." Excus-
ing speeders. intoxicated drivers and
other menacing motorists not only adds
to the dangers but never does any
good" the Shreveport Journal argues
while ION the other hand 1t will bring
harm. There must be vigorous, de-
termined warfare upon these offenders If
the death rate In to be lowered
There are plenty of drivers who
have run their ears tens of thousands
of miles without so much as killing n
chicken" the Chicago Journal points
cut and it believes every youngster
learning to drive should be taught as
his first lesson that an automobile is 4 /