Evening star., 1932-09-23
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

God help . dog on a road like this.
said the pedestrian to himself.
His remark was caused by the sight
of an old country looking dog slowly
crossing the way
achieving the same end, was as nothing
compared with the dogs amble.
Cars were darting along at 40 miles
an hour, but the big dog moved slowly
over the concrete shoulder as II hi
were In the middle Of a meadow
He did not hurry, but kept steadily
on his way
1t was not however, his lack oi
fright which saved him, or any evident
desire on the part of motorists not to
hit him, but solely chance, fortune
which so worked itself out that hi
passed between the hurtling vehicles.
The pedestrian marveled that not q
soul seemed to make any particular
effort to miss the creature, but rather
depended upon him to get out of the
way.
This was the feature Of motoring
which the spectator told himself he
would never be able to master, and was
the one big reason why he never took
up motoring.
His nature was such that he woulo
be forever thinking of the rights o.
those afoot, whereas he plainly saw
that to be successful driver in modern
traffic one must not only expect that
pedestrians will get out of the way but
confidently believe that they will.
The observer knew that while he
might hope that those afoot, including
all the smaller beasts, would get out o.
the way, actually he would not expec
them to- but would picture them failing
to do SO. (As, alas, they so often dc
fall
Modern traffic conditions, on the
other hand, are built solely on the basi:
of driver expectation. He figures that
it is not up to him to SLOW down In
order to be on the safe side in passing
those on the road.
He reserves his slowing down, his
effort to avoid hitting somebody Of
some thing. for the period Immediately
after he sees that he is going to hi
them.
This is the one big cause at the bottom
of the modern toll of the automobile. II
something could be done about it
along these lines. the number OF &C
cidents might be reduced. but just what
sort OF education resulting in q changed
outlook by the bulk OF drivers, would
secure this desirable end Is something
for educators, drivers and trafhc ex-
perts TO work out between them.
The problem will never be solved any
other way, the pedestrian thought, as
he paced along the concrete shoulder
serving in lieu of sidewalk. He walked
north on the left side Of the road fac
ing the oncoming stream OF traffic.
The effort TO avoid hitting must be
made scores OF feet in advance Of where
it is now commonly begun. That Is the
problem in a nutshell Of statement. The
onus of hitting must be put on the man
in the machine, not the man afoot. II
there is to be any let-up in the present
national proportion Of fatal accidents
and maimings.
The fiexibility Of the motor car bears
in itself the solution. Quick stopping
and starting with every degree OF in
crease and decrease In between, points
the way. II automobiles were not SC
perfectly flexible, and getting more SO
every year. there might be some excu-e
for the sad accidents which disf1gure
every highway, especially at week-ends
and which end In disaster for so many
The modern automobile, however. is
a marvel Of handling, not so much from
oLdilAPOAhe Va SSesaA6 ~ oAONhN ~
from It's ability to be slowed up and
slowed down gradually or abruptly, oil
to any degree between.
This power in the possession Of the
operator of the least costly car, gives
him the ability 10 begin making prep
arations to avoid an accident many
feet in advance of the point where such
preparations are normally begun.
If he sees an old dog, for instance
slowly crossing a road. the said dog evil
IDENTIFY not having enough common sense
to make a dash for 1t. he is able tc
recognize this fault In the dog as vel
as any pedestrian can.
The walker cannot hurt the dog the
man in a car can. 1t Is sort of up to
him. then, is 1t not. to act on the
theory that maybe the creature does
not see him, and will not be able tc
get cut of his way. If this seems &c