New Britain herald., 1930-08-29
NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM
 AUTO ACCIDENTS

NJ MEEK Of DEAIHS FROM
 AUTO ACCIDENTS
 1 For the first time since last De- l cember We are told by the division
 of Vital Statistics, Bureau Of the 1 Census, the number of deaths from ] automobile accidents in 7S Of the ! larger cities in this country for the
 four weeks ending August fell be- low the Ga me number for the cor responding four weeks in 1929. The fact may be attributable 10 several
 reasons, it may be pure circum- stance. no speculation is offered by tho Bureau upon this point.
 One thing IS certain, though, and that is that automobiles form the greatest menace 10 humanity "out- side Of acts Of God" that is offered today. And the remedy is simple. it merely calls for the exercise Of moderate caution the elimination Of carclessnoss on the part Of podes- tran and driver alike to avoid a great number Of the 3Qooo deaths which occur each year.
 Peculiar. is it not, the queer qmrk in human nature that transforms many gcntlemanly. courteous, sportsmanlike individual into 1end when ho gets behind the wheel Of d motor car. Gone is his willingness to give the other fellow break s7ce in q while, gone is his consideration of others and himself, gone IS his sportsmanship and usual thought fitness. He is out to do or die in the old bus, come what may on the ro1d ahead, Intent on saving q minute or 90 minute trip he cuts in ani out. scrapes mudguards of other cars, hammers ahead with set expres- sion and almost malicious fury. When h. reaches the end Of the journey. as he usually does despite the chances he took. he finds himsel: the possessor Of minute or so which he would not have had had he taken precautions on the highway He promptly proceeds to waste lt, somehow, anyhow-he is there and there is nothing to do. He might any time run into difficulty which again might cost a life. that is all right with him the point is that he has gotten away with it before and ex- poets 10 again. It is surprising in- deed the number Of cars which are obviously being operated under the above conditions met upon the high ways every day.
 The driver has no patent on care lessness either. Watch the pedestrian any time down on Main street corner, See how much heed he pays 10 the traffic signals set for his safe " and convenience. Intent on his own affairs and evidently willing to concedA that every one else in the world but himself is careful and will look out for him. he barRes along, crossing the street when the lights are against him and otherwise Gemonst rating his right 10 life. fiber ty and the pursuit Of happiness, The accent should certainly be placed on the liberty" rather than the life" Did you ever see pedestrian stop ped by policeman for crossing gainst a red light? If anyone ever showed anger against having his lib- erty interfered with the jay walker docs.
 One needless driver imperils many, one needless pedestrian imperIs but kims self. Nevertheless by the elimina- ton of carclo s3ness among drivers and pedestrians, by the cultivation of | the feeling Of courtesy On the road, i we can save most Of the lives being l lost in auto accidents. It is difficult ! to create politeness by law. indi- viduals must take it upon them 1 selves to observe the golden rule.