Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-11-09
Motorists Ciyility Club
by FREDERICK j. HASKINS.

Washington, DC. Nov IA Motor
lists National Civility club which aims
to make travel on the s~treetst safer
and more pleasant TO: 10th -pedestri-
ans and motorists has been organized
In this city.
More automobiles are on the streets
every year. More people are being
run down by vehicles. Complicated
traffic situations have so far been met
mainly with more complicated regu-
l%ations, SO that in some cities expert
enced drivers claim that nobody could
remember all the requirements. But
in spite Of the regulations. or because
Of them, accident figures mount to ap-
palling totals.
regular ARMY, believes that the key to
the puzzle is In the attitude Of the
people ON the streets. 1t Is apparent
that too many peoplesare antagonistic
toward the traffic situation.
The Roman emperor crushing be-
meath his chariot wheels anybody who
failed to scramble out of the way
seems barbarous to US. Yet the mod
ern driver who expects the right of
way over pedestrians and dehantly
takes It in spite Of everything is a
CDlIlIIlON 6lS IL. IL ~ sIIue lIdL liz
spirit behind the two riders is not en-
actly the same. The chariot would
not swerve from it's path Of destruc-
ton. The automobile driver depends
on his quick eye and the delicate me-
chanism of his car to avoid IN acct
dent il the troublesome pedestrian
fails to jump. Unfortunately some
times the driver m~iscalculates and an
accident. occurs. But the driver. is
convinced that the person on foot pre-
%cipitated the affair.
On the other hand pedestrians are
inclined to think that traffic regula-
lions are for vehicles only. Children
on roller skates and boys on bicycles
add to the nerve racking confusion
and danger of the streets. Children
on skates and bicycles can be seen
everywhere counting danger by hang
ing on machines and dashing between
swiftly moving cars.
! To sum it up, the pedestrian is re-
sentful because he thinks the motor
ish wants the earth, and the man in
the car grows irato at the jay walk
err.
Experiments in Courtesy.
i The mental attitude Of all the fac
tions Of street travellers accounts for
a lot of trouble, Mr.. Zerhsa thinks.
He became convinced some time ago
that 8 per cent Of the automobile ac-
. cid could be eliminated if a nor
considerable spirit prevailed.
He tried experiments in courtesy
when driving his car and when walk
Ing. and he was surprised at the re-
suits. The people he encountered
flashed back courtesy. Mr.. Zerbee
Achecked up and found shat his nerves
were less tense than when he went
! about with an every-man-f0r-himself
feeling. Furthermore, being courte-
Gus and receiving courtesy put him in
a cheerful frame Of mind Courtesy
the more people that practice it the
better. So he started the Motorists
Civility club. =
His club is not an organization that
meets and reads scientific papers. 1t
is a state OF mind. Mr.. Zerbee design
ed d sticker badge tor the Windshield
of members who pledge themselves to
let caution and courtesy RUIZ their
machines. He also devised a creed
which would DO on the reverse side OF
the sticker. to remind the driver OF
his pledge
The creed is in general terms and
1t ia intended to cover every situation
where the dptver must choose between
s~el1shness. IN reconsideration. The
terms are as follows:
l. Caution will obey all traffic reg.
ulations.
2. Courtesy will not assume road
superiority.
s. Courtesy will not become i'm.
patient when Caution delays:
L. A.. Caution will dim his lights t.
Courtesy, 1"
T g.. Courtesy. will politely Caution
nedeStrians. 80
8. Courtesy will respond to eau
TONS signal.
4. Courtesy will not cross eau
TONS path.
\ tion's hazard.
o. ~courtesy's speed will be 10Y
erned by Caution.
!, Onto Safety y. 1
AS an illustration OF number three
Mr.. Zerbee points out that along park
ways, such-as Washington's Speedway
a motorist occasionally becomes stall
ed. Instantly from cars behind tn
Iiimpatient screeches and believing o
horns. This tends to make the drive
nervous to to the extent that he can
not locate the trouble Or get his Ca
out Of the road. s%
Whore Ononse Frequently Is Given
- \-LF-IE N.Y.. saH4GFF' eLas.Lt-FsEC
Number two is most frequently VIC
lated by heavy. cars which sometime
take up than their share Of tn
I middle Of the road.
Number eight Is one OF the MOI
abstract provisions. It Is for the driv
er who makes a reckless move there
, by endangering others who are pro
!, ceeding carefully. This sort Of Thin
Is the basis OF many OF the Just chang
{ es OF cArelessneA against drivers.
, There ID an extreme to everythin
aid$tt has been claimed by few driy
. ers that there can be s5guch a thing 9
! 20 much courtesS. One ;n~1otorist c1n
, plains OF su~per-polits driyers who IN
sist on his taking the right OF way !
themselves according to u ctraf1
ruls. This he says, issposltiNelg daI
n gerous in heavy trafic because othe
h. cars. knowing who has the riglt {
way, trySato 80 ahead while the A