, 1922-09-29
Unwdrrantcd Speed

DAY BY DAY the lessons in safety are delivered
IL in impressive form through the accidents that
occur here, there and elsewhere. Usually, mvesti-
cation reveals the fact that most could nave been
prevented. II matters little after a thing is done,
whether II was a sin of omission or a SIN of com
mission, unless the lesson sinks deeply into the
mind and remains there as a warning, Il signal of
caution for all future time.
The overturning of the fire department car ON
Center street early Wednesday evening, bad as it
was for the driver was a most fortunate accident.
The journey of the ear from department hcadquar.
tiers 10 the court house and return 10 the scene of
the accident at the intersection of Center and See.
and streets was a series of bairbreadtb escapes,
especially on the return trip.
What sense there is in driving n fire car, or any
car, through Il c~ongested street at top speed. en-.
dangering human lie at every jump is a matter for
those responsible for the action of subordinates L,
explain TO the people of the city who pay the costs,
the salaries, and the damages.
Here is "A case which will hurry the fire depart
ment TO explain satisfactorily. The driver going
north on the city's principal street. searching for
the fire chief. Presumably TO attend a fire in the
extreme southwestern corner of the city. If there
was a fire, ,Snich there was not as was later learn.
ed, the thing TO do was tor those on duty to go and
put IT out, and If it was important that the chief be
present, which ii was not, why was he not available
at headquarters or his whereabouts certain. In
any event the driver of the chiefs car was not JUS
tilted IN making the spectacular run 10 another
part OF the city TO look up the absent chief and at
the same time cndanger the lives and property of
the people throughout the length of Center street.
After the passage of the car on the run north.
NNNSp W. III NdS Iuslllltu III moving ana
clearly within its rights. On the return trip south
the department car was not under control of its
driver and was not obeying traffic rules as is evil
denced by the fact that it passed in front of the
Cleary car and it was due entirely to the presence
of mind of the driver of that car that several
death were avoided. At no time did the driver of
the city car apply brakes or reduce his speed.
After striking the Cleary car the city car con
tinued on its crazy course, striking other cars on
each side of the street, finally turning a complete
summersault and landing bottom side up seventy
odd feet south of the intersection.
4 Spectators along Center street who witnessed the
whole scene freely predicted the outcome of the
reckless driving. And men standing upon the cor
ners, discounted the actual happening and accur-
atcly called the.turn.
The difference between twenty miles an hour and
fifty miles an hour is iuconsequential in reaching
a fire, when measured in terms of the fires pro.
gress. At least human life along the way is more to
be considered than the burning building at the 9th
err end of the run: and the authorities of the CITY. if
they would avoid the righteous Indignation of the
people. Will put an end 10 the dangers attending
the pulling of spectacular automobile stunts.
The city cannot expect, so long as it permits
Center street TO be a parking ground for cars. anil
directs them TO be parked at an angle with the
curb. and then races its fire apparatus at express
train speed through the narrow lane, to avoid acct.
dents and escape public ~censure.
The city must set an example in public safety bv
reducing the travelling speed of its fire machines
through the business district.