Putnam patriot., 1925-09-18
HELD RESPONSIBLE
Eighteen Out of l33 Drivers Involved
 In Fatal Accidents Negligent

Eighteen out Of 133 motor vehicle operators involved in fatal accidents in Connecticut in the first six months of this sear were held criminally respon- sIble by county eoronors, 1t is disclosed bs the current issue of the state motor vehicle department bulletin Eighty eight were held blameIess. sixteen were killed. and eleven evaded respen- sibility.
 some caroners and some courts are still too generous in their interpreta- ton of the liquor law is relating to Che driving 0f motor vehicle, in the opinion of the department. A man who will drink and thereafter attempt to drive a car" says Commissioner Stoeekel. takes matters out ot the bounds of fairness and equity and ought not Co have any consideration. He is not fit for the road. When la tality occurs, the question Of criminal respon sibility goes before the coroner court Tor the county. The coroner lh- vestigates and, on the evidence obtain able. either exonorates the operator or holds him for trial, This has nothing to do with the question Of damages or civil recovery but is the determination of the issue of criminallty
 The subject of this (Septemoerl bulletin is Fatal Accidents, which 1t shows to be decreasing in the larger towns and cities and increasing m the smaller places. "The reason IS quite obvious.' concludes the bulletin. Towns of larger size are now man tainine careful supervision of traffic, while the small towns either nave ho- body or have some person pald oy fee system or on part time, while trai- fife is increasing all the time.
 In a discussion of some simple eaus- es of fatal accidents, Tn the pnbliea- tion, 1t Is shown that, while, numer- ically. fatal accidents are increasing III Connecticut, the percentage Of aeei- dents which result fatally IS lower thah il has been The percentage for the first eight months of this year IS, as was that for all of last year, Id whereas 1t was $ in 1923 and Zl Tor 1922. The conclusion drawn from that fact is that MT Everyman Is more fit to survive than he was, but that there are certain types o1 aeci- dents to participants in traiitef other than the automobile operator, where there is no betterment in the class
 Pedestrians are the worst sufferers from fatal accidents it Is pointed out, This is because there are so many more of them than there are vehicles, 1 pedestrian is easily killed. II ls al most unbelievable how slight touch win knock down and iuiure or kill man. As between pedestrians, those who are the least capable Co care for themselves by natural qualification eN- perience and education are the most apt to be caught. In 1925, to Septehl- ber 1 there have been l05 pedestrians including sixty-one children, killed n the state" The whole number oi chli- dren killed in 1923 and is13, eaeh, was sixty-t,yo. The point is made that the adult pedestrian usually gets into fatal accident through his own negh. gence. He is supposed to be aware of his surroundings and Go know that he must do his share Co avoid aeelueht' 1t is strange but nevertheless true that persons who are defective m near ing or sight or crippled do not on ae- count of these defects, participate as victims. The reason is that suen per son realizes his defect and IS super careful"
 Parents are exhorted to impress upon their children the dangers or the highway and the desirabliity oi not De- ing upon if any more than necessary aPublie school courses in prevention ot traffic accidents" II is felt, eonla ps much amplified with excellent results b.. o,,exators should bear constantly in mind that children are depehoehss largely upon them for their safety ana operators should therefore ne super cautious when they see children MA9 can gsS 1n 1Ioal ot Lhs.E sss..