Smyrna times., 1925-06-17
AUTOMOBILE DRIVERS MUST
USE CAUTION At CROSS ROADS
STATE POLICE GIVE WARNING
THEY WILL MAKE ARRESTS
Drivers From Out of State Are the
Worst Offenders; Several Penn
sylvanians Arrested Last Week

WORST OHeNuerSS several IeIiH-
sylvanians Arrested Last Week
How to prevent Pennsylvania mo-
torists from "bucking traffic" and to
get Delawareans and others to OBJ
serve the state law regarding the
crossing of main highways from cross
roads, are the two big traffic problems
with which the State Highway Police
are wrestling now. Recently several
Pennsylvanians were arrested while
driving recklessly on the state high
way and fined, their particular otfense
being "bucking traffic.
By this is meant, in attempting to
pass a car ahead, the mOtorist, drives |
past and then cuts directly in front |
of the car he is passing. Sometimes
he does this within three or four feet |
and the danger of an accident is such |
that if the driver of the car being |
passed should attempt to put on more |
gas, nothing could stop an accident.
Usually those who do this trick are
accustomed to driving in large cities
where, with cars going slow enough,
there is not so much likelihood of a
collision, but on an open road like the
state highway, there is no legitimate
reason for it.
One thing is noticeable on the state
roads and that is that the offenders
are usually Pennsylvanians. Last
Sunday there were cars on the high
way from more than a score of states
in the Union and practically none OF
them attempted this hazardous prac
tice accept those motors that bore a
Pennsylvania license tag.
Superintendent of State Police Rey-
nolds, and state policeman last Sun
day posted themselves at a cross road
in New Castle County, and whenever
a mOtorist crossed it without stopping
as the law directs, or slowing up so
that his machine could be stopped
within two or three feet they were
halted and informed of the law. But
whether this will do any good is
doubtful. In practically every in
stance they were asked if they had
read the sign at the approach to the
main highway telling them to stop
and in nearly every instance, they
claimed they had seen no sign.
This law about stopping at the APP
proach to a main highway was enact
ed more than two years ago by the
Delaware legislature. In order to
notify the motoring public which
might claim ignorance of the act,
signs were erected at all cross roads.
On the main highway, these signs
have DANGER" in large letters,
"Cross Road Ahead" On the cross
roads. the signs read "STOP," and
there is no trouble reading these
signs, if the motorist is careful. But
as last Sundays experience proved,
if they told the truth, they didn't
bother to read the signs.
The state police will continue to
wage their crusade against the traffic
buckers and these reckless drivers
who drive full tilt across a main high
way, hoping that if some are made
examples of for violating the law
that the news may spread that it costs
money in Delaware to be a motor law
breaker.
For the past three weeks the high
way department has had units of mer
out along the highway cutting the
high grass and weds from the sides
of the road. The highway is stat,
property and consequently this job j!
up to the Highway Commission o,
some other state agency to do it. TIL,
result is most pleasing to the eye ant
the highway is given a much neate
appearance. The grass is cut thre
times each year. Once in the spring
once during the summer and a thir,
time late in the fall.
c. d. Buck, state engineer, spen
two days recently inspecting roa
work in Sussex county, going over al
planned roads with county engineers
There was a rumor about Dover las
week, that possibly within two o
three weeks, the judges who had bee
asked by Governor Robinson to rend
er an opinion on the legality of tn
lay authorizing Sussex county to bon
Tor more roads, might give thaC ue
cisiOn.
Two weeks was the time it was III
mored such an opinion might be eX
pected and those who fought for NOR
roads in Sussex are corresponding
delighted, providing the act is declal
ed legal. If the opinion given tn
governor should be the opposite, the
some new action would have to b
taken to try and right the problem
Many believe that if it's declared ur
constitutional, that there can be n
new roads built for that county ou
of new funds, until another sessiO
of the General Assembly.
Corporal Ingram, of the State Higl