Evening star., 1926-03-24
Yellow Tail Lights Opposed.

Opposition to the provision in the
model code that red Iail lights for au-
tomobiles be abandoned In favor or
yellow tail lights is strenuously voiced
in one of the IA protests of the Michi-
gan conference members.
Twenty million automobiles in the
United States now use a red light,
the bill of amendments set forth. IF a
change is made to a yellow light AT
this time considerable confusion VIII
result If the alternative suggestion
is adopted that only new cars use
yellow light, then necessarily both
red and yellow light will be used for
rear light. Any one familiar with sud
den changes in traffic regulations
must realize that this will bring about
confusion and cause accidents. This
conference has been called to reduce
accidents. IF there is no strong ar
gument 10 make the change then we
feel that good enough should be left
alone, and that the red light should
be used as a rear light, avoiding un-
necessary confusion and expense"
Another amendment of popular in
terest put forward by the Michigan
delegation is the emitting of right
of-way rule for motorists now in
cluded in the model law.
Right of Way Questioned.
This delegation" says their report,
| "is Of the opinion that right -of-way
rule should be thoroughly discussed
We are of the opinion that probably
each driver should be placed upon his
own responsibility and should be
compelled to exercise care under the
circumstances at street intersections
If right-of-way rule is prescribed
| it has been found that a great many
automobile drivers insist upon main
/ tanning their right of way and feel
| that as matter of right they can
take that stand. We feel that this
question should be thoroughly dis
cussed as to the merits of the right
of-way rule and believe that proba bly,
the same end can be accomplished by
omitting such a rule from the uni
form code"
Other important amendments placed
before the conference by this body
provide for abolition of temporary
permits, recording of Chattel mort
cages and conditional sale contracts.
adopting policy of having license
plate follow the car. abolish 'drive-a-
way" placards. new certificate of title
for new engines: prohibition of the
sale of a title; more strict employment
of examiners of motorists desiring
operators licenses: surrender Of
drivers permits at time of sentence
in court, more strict illumination OF
railroad crossings at night.
"Public Conscience" Needed.
Need for an aroused public con
science and the building up of
courtesy and chivalry among motor
lists and pedestrians" was emphasized
as an essential pivot in the safety
campaign by John Hertz Of the Yellow
Truck and Coach Manufacturing Co.
of Chicago. who spoke at today's ses-
sion on ''The Future of Motor Trans
portation."
"All the forces of education in mo-
tion pictures. newspapers. magazines,
billboards and schools" said Mr..
Hertz, "can contribute their share to
this plane of popular education. / see
no other way to round out the work
we have to do and to do 1t well. We
are living in q motor age. We must
have a motor age education and a
motor age sense of responsibility to-
wards our fellow men and the protec-
ton of their lives.
"The mad, unrestraiHed rush to get
some place, is only a delusion on the
part of the driver and Is the cause Of
most accidents. We recently proved
that. In our city we made a test
Of the time it took to travel from the
South Shore Country Club to the Con
gress Hotel-a distance Of about 8
miles-first at 20 miles an hour and
then at 35 miles an hour. With such
precautions as were absolutely neces-
sary for safety. the difference in time
was only minutes, as / recall. But
the difference between 20 miles an
hour and 35 miles an hour. with re-
spect to safety on crowded boule-
ward, Is past calculation.
Would Bar Unfit.
"If epileptics. mental detectives and
liquor drinkers are prevented from
driving automobiles, fewer accidents
will happen.
"And again we know that II auto
mobilists and pedestrians are educated
to realize fully the tragic results OF
carelessness, fewer accidents will
occur.
"And we may be certain that If
man who has been guilty of a mis-
demeanor or Of assault with an auto
mobile is imprisoned fewer accidents
will occur.
mo one can tell which is the most
important, regulation by law or regu-
lation through a sense of sportsman.
ship or regulation through common
sense. We would attach equal impor-
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