Evening star., 1924-02-24
BIZ WILLIAM ULLMAN.

Investigation of accident causes is
of thoughlessness in present-day motor
ing and emphasizing the growing need
for clearer thinking on the part Of all
who drive motor vehicles.
Carelessness is receiving its usual
condemnation, but a new phase Of the
subjest has developed in the discovery
that many acts of apparent carelessness
are, in reality, the result of misjudg-
n,ent due to failure to grasp the sit
IIation.
A recent investigation of a collision
between two cars, for instance, is shown
to have revealed particularly loose think
ing on the part Of each driver. To spec
tatorS who gave attention to hut one
car at the time of the collision the
trouble was diagnosed as the outcome
OF carelessneSs. But 10 those who OBJ
served the actions of both drivers the
carelessness diagnosis would have in
volved the long arm of coincidence. for
one driver made as many errors as the
other.
The investigation was ordered on the
theory that the trouble was primarily
Cefective reasoning on the part of both
drivers
Lack of Quick Thinking.
When each driver became aware of
the presence of the other and the dan
ger was evident to each it was shown
that each acted upon the theory that
G-atety would be assured by stopping.
Zach car, therefore, came to a stop.
but as car a was travelling on a slight
downgrade it slid straight ahead just
tar enough to cross the path of car B,
which had accelerated upon noticing car
a in process of applying its brakes
II the drivers had been quick enough
to have n the difference in the
grading the driver of car A would
simply have accelerated, permitting
the driver of car B to apply his brakes,
since the latter was in a position to
stop with less sliding.
IT was also found that as both
drivers had sounded their horns at
the same time upon approaching the
other and both had assumed that the
way was clear.
With clearer thinking. it is con-
tended, each driver would have given
other, reasoning that the double CO.
1ncldence of having the horn again
conflict was virtually impossible.
First Step Toward Safety.
It would seem, judging from this
new attitude toward automobile ac-
cidents, that the first step TO be taken
by the average driver in safeguarding
think quickly and reason accurately.
With regard to the pedestrian this
has particular significance, owing to
the fact. that the average person who
walks is not motor wise"
The motorist, for instance, knows
nretty well what the other fellow Is
up against when the possibility of a
collision hinges upon the events Of a
few seconds time, and he acts ac-
cordingly. But when he is endeavor-
ing to avoid running down a pedes-
trlan he must consider the fact that
the pedestrian is not likely to have
any idea as to what he or she could
do to make it easier for the driver to
forestall trouble.
a large proportion of personal in
iuries are attributable to the fact that
the automobile driver does not think
quickly enough to compensate for the
foibles Of the confused pedestrian mind.
The pedestrian, becoming confused.
f'tarts to rush ahead, and the motorist
promptly fails to reason that the
pedestrian will probably decide to run
back the next instant.
Mean Type of Hazard
There are certain types of people who
will step off the curb into the path
Of traffic and give the automobile driver
the impression that they are careless
about crossing crossings. He will,
therefore, count on having them yield