Evening star., 1930-06-15
ROAD HOG BLAMED
FOR TRAFFIC TOLL
Progressive Cities Declare
War on "PeSt" Who Clogs
Highways.
BY RALPH HEPBURN,
Noted Racing Pilot.

The dangerous uneXplainably selfish
and unsportsmanlike practice of road
hogging undoubtedly is responsible for
more traffic accidents on American
highways than any other single factor
entering into the scheme Of motoring
conditions.
That the road hog should be smitten
with vengeance similar to that exer-
cised in stamping out any other COM
mon or garden variety of pest is fore
gone conclusion. Any motorist will
agree with that.
Highway facilities in the United States
are inadequate. despite the rapid prog
ress demanded by the requirements of
the 100000 motorists who are trying
to use them in the interest of further
ing their individual needs They would
not be nearly so inadequate If the road
hog could be abolished and If highways
could be used as a means of accom-
modating an expeditions movement of
traffic instead of the hodge-podge that
exists today.
War Declared on Road Hog.
A number of progressive cities have
declared war on the road hog Chicago
is a notable example In that city the
person who attempts to drive slowly
on a high-speed boulevard Is treated
with the same degree of intolerance as
the driver who attempts to break speed
records where slow and careful driving
Is necessary
Michigan has discarded the old-faSh-
1oned method of regulating speed and
has established in its place a law which
permits the individual motorist to gov
ern his speed in accordance with the
width of the road, traffic conditions and
sane driving policy. This law was en-
acted on the theory that 80 or 40 miles
an hour may be perfectly safe under
certain conditions, while under other
conditions Is or 20 miles an hour may
be dangerous.
The motorist who causes an accident
m Michigan through carelessness or
recklesSneSs loses his license and is
otherwise dealt with severely.
Undoubtedly other States will follow
these examples in time When they
do welcome relief from the road hog
should be closer to accomplishment
In the meantime the best way to work
on that type of driver is to show him
how unpopular he is.
The road hog has been defined as
that type of motorist who takes his
half Of the road from the middle" He
is noted for his persistency in poking
along on high-speed boulevard, fore
ing those who would pass him to endan-
ger their own lives and the cars and
lives of those who may be approaching
from the opposite direction.
"Pure SeIfishness."
Deliberate road hogging is pure self
ishneSs and those who engage in it
should be made to pay the penalty
Automobile manufacturers are doing
their best to make the automobile as
safe as possible
Four-wheel brakes full-vision bodies
and hundred and one other modern
Ideas have been adopted in an effort
to reduce traffic accidents. But acci-
dents We will always have so long as
motorists engage in unsafe driving
practices, and particularly that one
known as road hogging
Personal experience has taught me to
drive with my head as well as my feet
and hands. And this is particularly
true when I am in unfamiliar territory
have found it both wise and safe to
get my car in one lane of trafic and
keep 1t there. 1t saves me the bother
and expense of buying new tenders and
of paying doctor and hospital bills
Besides, it preserves my nerves for speed
way driving.