Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-30
BY EARLE BROWN,
Il
Chief Patrol Ofncer Minnesota Highway
Department

Chief Patrol Ofneer Minnesota Highway
Department.
The more see Of the highway trafic
problem, the more I study the causes
Of motor vehicle accidents, the more
am convinced that while there are
many sides to this question the trouble
back of 1t all can be summed up In
two words; Road hogging.
The accidents which result IN death
or serious injury are usually due to vio-
lation of one Of the few fundamental
rules Of the road, rules which have been
written into the uniform vehicle code
Of the National Conference on Street
and Highway Safety and which are a
part of the law In all or nearly all the
States. I refer to such practices as
driving beyond the left Of the center Of
q road which has two or more lanes,
contending for the right-of way at In
tersections. passing other cars on the
crest Of hill or at curves or intersec-
tons where the view is INSTRUCTED,
making left turns without adequate
stgnal weaving in and out or cutting
in on other trafhc, parking on the
travelled portion Of the roadway, pass
ing street cars taking or discharging
passengers driving with glaring or i'm
properly adjusted lights.
EYtucucc OF disregard.
Every one Of these errors shows evil
dence of a disregard of the rights Of
others on the road. The driver who
commits these errors Is not treating
other drivers as he would have them
treat him. He Is guilty Of discourtesy
OF the worst kind An error of conduct
in the home or the ONCE may hurt
ones feelings, but IL It Is unintentional,
It may be righted by an apology.
Usually you can quickly escape the So
cial boor But there is no escape from
the boor behind the steering wheel
Friends riding with him in his own
car. strangers meeting him on the road.
are alike at his mercy. and he leaves
wounds which can never be healed, and
vacancies in the family circle which
can never be filed.
When we speak Of q road hog, we
usually think Of a person with q big
car or truck going down the middle Of
the highway and forcing other drivers
to take the ditch or stay behind him
Such deliberate misconduct is, Of course.
inexcusable, but IN its consequences 1t
Is perhaps not as serious as thoughtleSS-
ness. Such driver at least gives plain
notice of his hoggishneSs, and the
driver of a smaller vehicle who con-
tends with him for the road is simply
IOOinaToy But Wnen we meet car
on the wrong side of the road at the
crest, Of hill, when the car ahead of
us makes sudden left turn without a
signal. when he starts weaving in and
out Of congested trahie, we have no
time nor opportunity to get out Of his
way, and it Is just luck If We escape an
accident.
Drivers ThOughtless.
Usually these things are not done de-
liberately but thoughtlessly The driver
who takes the trouble to consider the
matter at all would know that when
violating most Of the rules In the traffic
code he is endangering himself as
much as others.
Misconduct on the road becomes all
the more astonishing when We consider
that much Of 1t is committed by intel
ligent, educated persons, who have a
high code of ethics and courtesy in their
business dealings and their social con-
duct. Why they should become such
Doors when they get behind the steer
ing wheel is dificult to understand. A
large share Of accidents. It is true, are
caused by persons who are mentally or
physically deficient, and who should