The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-11-21
Let's Stop Reckless Driving

Let's Stop Reckless Driving
The r-cainins Of partial consciousness by Ruth Saxvlk
Z, days after being run down b. al automobile, gives
hops tina. she may fully rccovc: and thus be able TO tell
how 1t all happened
There have boca so many traffic accidents 0. late.
on The Mandan highway and III the city here, that
ii is high timc to ascertain tho causes, in order that
como action may be taken to avert indefinite repetition
SO far nothing has been done. Neither the saxvi. case
nor that Of John Brazcgol following it, has moved any
body i'll authority TO invoke an existing law or to propose
:cnc new regulation i'll tho absence. il that be the case,
Of m cfficicn. law. to curb what palpably is either care
lcsrness or recklcssncss or a combination OF these.
1t may be pleaded that in neither case is the cause
OF tho ',lamc definitely known. Exactly. That is why
the restoration 10 CONSCIOUSNESS Of the Saxvik girl may
b. as helpful Us it is consolatory. She may be able a
little later TO she'd light OIL the tendency to run down
pedestrians here or for cars to crash on perfectly
open streets. II there were not 50 many collisions 1t
nigh. ec possible TO assum, that the pedestrian victims
have bceu guilty Of contvibutorv negligence. But tho col
l.sions indicate beyond a doubt that somebody has been
careless or reckless. May not tho manning of pedestrians
he equally attributable TO drivers speeding or failing to
keep up 3 lookout?
Both the SaNvik and the Brazcrol accidents occurred
on wide open streets where they were incxcusablc. There
was plenty Of room for everybody to move III. either afoot
or in car. and no occasion for anybody to have bccn
run down, If only watchiulncss were maintained BY
either party to tho accident.
This emphasizes tho distinction between downtown
traffic in the c. ngcstcd blocks and traffic out OH tho
open and little Travelled streets and blocks. In the down.
town section, the danger OF crashing into either persons
afoot or into other cars and trucks naturally would
have a tendency to keep drivers more watchful. That
may be tho reason fewer accidents take place in the
business section than in tho residential districts.
III the open residential districts it would be natural
for drivers to BE- encouraged into speeding. Usually
there Is supposed to be a clear course ahead. For the
same reason that there arc fewer cars on these blocks,
. pedestrian Or a bicycle rider might fail to take proper
precautions. or both walker and motorist might be care
less at the same moment. Especially a child crossing
the street. The burden Of care. it would seem, rests on
tine motorist. Children. who are liable to pop into the
street suddenly, naturally easily forget caution. They are
liable to dart into the path Of danger. and a careful
motorist can meet such a situation in most cases. II
he has his car under control. for instance, nobody need
be killed. But II he be driving recklessly tho chances
of avcrting an accident. If not a tragedy, arc not so as
surfing. That is a situation which almost surely means
misfortune. If that occurs. the motorist has been cul-
pahly lax. He should be penalizcd.
As far as school children arc concerned, there is a
system Of precautions in vogue in tho schools, The teach
es and superintendent seek to minimize street traffic
pcrils to tho lives and limbs Of their charges by drills.
admonitions and inhibitions. Children naturally arc
forgftful and more often careless than careful. That
is Why 1t is incumbent on car and truck drivers to
- SsN S0ASs AsSJ ssOMsN - 49, Va AASN WAtbAOAb
keeping their wits on what they arc doing and their
eyes on the road.
Sixth street bcng a main artery highway has en-
couraged q lot OF speeding. Perhaps it would be possible
for the police department to find thereon violators o!
safe and sane use Of the highway whom they could
penalize as an example to discourage the reckless speed
ing that has become such a practice Of evil there.
There is no use in allowing a bad situation to grow
worse. Two accidents Of the saxvik and Brazerol type
should be sufficient incentive to grapple with a situation
which every day Is filled with the possibility Of death
or injury. with tears and sorrow and rcnorsc. Protect
both driver and pedestrian from each other. The matter.
in fact. was the subject Of discussion at q recent joint
meeting Of the school board and the city commission
prior to tho running down Of Ruth saxvik. Danger
around the schools from reckless driving had reached
that point where the school authorities pressed on the
city officials the need Of action to protect tho children
IL their coming and going 1t the opening and closing
periods and in the intermissions and rcccsscs. As the
hest proposal the board was able to make was tho cstab-
lishment Of . patrol to each school building during
thesc periodicals = p-oliceman-nothiny vas done. The
city police force Is insufficient for such an expansion OF
duty. The city did not see It's way clear to charging
the force TO such numbers thatsthe patrolling Of the
eeheol vicinities could be undertaken.
Now, how about downtown? What has happened up
town may equally Is easily bcfall in the congested dis.
tstct. Leaving that danger to chance IS hardly good
judgment Of practice. Why wait until . tragedy has
occurred thers1 Lock the stable after the horse Is
sto1eu7 Unwtae. The city has had It's warnings. Per-
hays establishments Of electric traffic signals Is just as
Important hare . It Is In other cities OF Dismarck's size.
~. a - Whittemore, who WAS On . tour Of the South
seeently. says he saw such precautions everywhere he
Wenk. And thu driving Vas not q reckless q here.
11mnaxek driving y. n his opinion, the most reckless
~ hes come acrose re keeps . record o. accidents. the
ineet thnteugh IN the country. which 10 states have
sopxto1. ard be should know what the character of the
~ driving here q.
Nhnts 70 - done shout Al this? Shall there he fur
AeGt6ents = the 1axvik and Draserol cases. o. shall
lDDeGhtng - done = deter recklessnea. accident and
9oDp1y,
@1Ut tafq1: 4 geanine Durten owtnnett signature
s1et = vefth ssiaeg teday, svsn % > rabber check.