Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-14

every motoriSt possessed
- that virtue there would be
no trying to beat the other fellow
to the Intersection and, conse-
Quently, many less accidents.
Courtesy is needed in business
but it is needed in motoring far
more. One motorist should think
of the other driver and the walker
as well. A little courteous act
makes at least two people feel
better all day.
A letter on this point comes to
hand through M. o. Eldridge, act
ing director of traffic. It was
written by H. o. Rounds, director
of the safety and traffic division
of the Detroit Automobile Club, a
member of the American Automo-
bile Association. Mr.. Rounds was
formerly police officer, and his
advice Is good.
Courtesy Described.
eff should ask you to describe
what the meaning of courtesy
u.s." he said, "in connection with
your home or business life, you
could give me a dozen examples
without pausing, but between the
home and business place is No
Mans Land which you must
travel daily as pedestrian, bus
or street car rider or the operator
Of an automobile; and Judging
from the statistics, sniperS and
Sharpshooters are constantly
gathering their toll in that ter
ritory.
"Thirty-one thousand fell in No
Mans Land last year, an increase
Of z per cent over 1928.
"If you should be crossing No
Mans Land during war time,
bearing white flag, you would
be guaranteed q safe crossing;
but try to cross the street in peace
time bearing a dozen white flags,
and 1t would be your agility only
that would land you safely on the
other side.
I'VE read in the papers daily
that in some of the larger cities
motor vehicle pulls alongside of a
pedestrian or another car, and a
burst Of machine-gun fire elimi-
mates the other fellow from flu
ture interest in things mundane,
and 1t is Smeared all over the
front page because it does not oc-
cur frequently and is, therefore,
news, while 100 more automobiles,
rushing down the highway, OPP
Grated out of control or driven by
insane or drunken drivers, man
gle and crush men, women and
children and receive just a line.
In the first place, every avail
able officer is started out to cap
ture and punish, while in the sec
ond place 1t becomes just rou-
tine and receives paragraph, be-
cause it is not newS-it is so COM
mon, hardly worth mentioning
and if the killer is apprehended,
an examination is usually the
greatest penalty to which they
are subjected and they continue
in their accustomed activity.
Perhaps the time will come
when our State Legislature will
pass new operators license law
making it obligatory to revoke
that license so that he cannot du-
plicate the act, and eventually the
Indifferent drivers will be removed
from the highway and those re-
naming will appreciate the priv
nege OF operating motor vehicle
on the highway in safety.
Acts of Courtesy.
Courtesy will prevent acct
dents
1.-The above is on the back of
many signs on the highway, but
If you do not know what 'cour-
tesy' means, of what avail is the
quotation? Let us see If we can
work out few definite acts that
could be adopted as courtesy in
connection with traffic, with
view to reducing accidents.
Il. Pedestrians. Look to the left
before stepping from curb, and if
car is closely approaching, grant
1t the right of way.
"2. Pedestrians. At intersection
with traffic signals, do not step
from curb until green shows, then
walk briskly, but do not run; and
If an operator of car stops to
give you the right of way, you
might say Thank you
g. Motor vehicle operator. Cour-
tesy to the pedestrian who is
crossing the street on the green
and is caught in the center of the
highway when signal changes can
be shown by extending the hand
and indicating to the driver be-
hind that you are letting the pc
destrian complete the crossing,
and also assuring the pedestrian
that he may continue in safety.
a. A signal to the operator be-
hind you that you expect to stop
or make a left turn, or turn to
the left and go by the car ahead
and made before you start to turn
is a supreme act of courtesy
as we'll as safety.
IS. You expect to make a right
turn at the next corner-a vehicle
Is approaching on your right or
waiting ahead Of you, headed in
your direction, to make left
turn in the same way you intend
to 90. Why not signal to them
before you reach the intersection
that you are turning, and let them
proceed and get out of your way
just make a rotary motion with
your hand All, how his face
lights up with pleasure and what
nice warm wave passes down
your spinei
6. Grant to the other fellow the
treatment you want yourself. Say
Thank you once in a while, as
well as Darn you There is moth
ing intricate about this, and it
will greatly simplify the traffic