Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-12
HIGHWAYS AND RESPONSE.
BILI1Y

Inc country mas highways Tor
people to travel over; it assumes to
maintain reasonable safety for the
travellers; it prcscribes regulations
and employers authorities to enforce
those.
If the authorities fail to do this the
regulations become thing ridiculous
and those who make and endeavor
to apply the laws a laughing stock.
Yet enforcement is an exceedingly
difficult undertaking and requires
more highway police and more CO.
operation on the part of the public
and innexible backbone in the au-
thoritics.
Today the highways are more I'M
safe than they were in the days Of
the footpads, the highwaymen. Per-
centages in daily toll Of the injured
compares unfavorably with that of
the travellers in darkest Africa.
1t is hardly practicable to refuse
license to run a motor vehicle to
such as have reached the age of un-
Outstanding, have a knowledge of the
rules of the road and bear a reput-
able character. There are no mental
tests which may be applied to de-
termine the capacity of the licensed
driver. There seems as yet to be no
feasible method for separating the
clcar-hcadcd from the hare Drained
at the time of granting the license
and SO, inevitably, the travelling pub
lie is in a degree exposed to the I'M
fit. But to expose that public to the
unfit after there has been a demon
stration Of their unftness is a wicked
thing, a Sinking of the responsibility
for the damage thereafter done by
the unfit. In event that one of these
unfit, permitted to retain the privi-
lego of his license after being proved
unfit kills or mains a fellow human
being the blood guilt is on the head
of the shirker and the apologist
The fact that alcohol and gasoline
don't mix is one, the truth of which
is not beyond the grasp of a cave
man. A wise law was passed to pun
ish anyone driving a car when at
all' under the influence OF liquor
No one can question the wisdom Of
the law-providing it he enforced.
1t is easily conceivable how difficult
it mi cht be to prove such guilt. Of
ten the guilty is possessed of a low
able personality, has many friends
Possibly the weight of the evidence
is no more than what happened and
the smell Of liquor on the offender
In that event he should be regarded
as unfortunate, but not excusab BILE
The burden of proof is on him and
neither he nor anyone for him may
lift It from his shoulders.
There is no other way unless we
arc to accept drunken motorists as g
joke and the CHASTITY harvest as 6
matter of Indifference. And those
who attempt to spare the unfortunate
assume a share in his acts. One wht
takes drink of liquor and ther
takes the wheel of car has accepted
that burden of proof. The soone
that is clearly understood the bette
for all concerned. He should not b.
encouraged in the hope to get clea
because witnesses will shrink from
exposing him. Rarely is a witnes
found who will do that except from
a high sense of duty. 1t is thank
less task, but one which must be per
formed II the public Is to be protect
ed
And the same high sense Of dut,
places on us all, who travel the high
ways, the obligation of reporting al
violations coming under our observa
ton, often a mighty unpleasant thini
to do. To avoid doing this, however
is to assume a share in guilt an,
damage done. and sooner or late
must inevitably expose ourselves an
those dear to us to the dangers whic1
daily ride on the seat with the unfi
at the wheel