Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1937-03-19
ROY PHILLIPS
IS KILLED IN
AUTOCOLLISION
The Highways Are Still Taking
Alarming Toll Of
Human Life
BALTIMORE CITY IS
SPONSORING NEW PLAN

Death is still taking an awful and
stealing growing toll on the high
ways. The fatalities largely outnum-
Der those Of last year at this time,
and it looks as if 1887 is out for a
record in automobile disasters. These
are specially emphasized when they
occur at ones hand, and the danger of
the road seems always present men
ace.
Market Street of this city, was the
scene on Saturday night of last week,
of one of the many collisions daily
recorded all over the country. A truck
and passenger motor car struck, and
Roy Phillips, of Hallwood, Virginia,
brought the number of killed in the
State up to 120 since January /.
Phillips was killed when the auto
mobile in which he was riding turned
over after colliding with truck in the
rain shortly after midnight Saturday.
Others in the automobile, who suf-
fered cuts and bruises, were Howard
Ayers, of Sanford, Va, said to have
been the owner and driver; Paul Fetch
err, William Tapman and John Curtis,
of Hallwood; Wilson Fisher, of Watts
vile, Va, and Elmer Cutler, of Ma
kemie Park, Va.
M. w. Davenport, of Norfolk, said
to have been the driver of the truck,
was not injured. Neither was Miss
Hester Whitaker, also of Norfolk, who
was riding with him. The truck, own
ed by B. o. Bonney, of Norfolk, was
on it's way to New York with a load
of spinach.
A coroner's jury was called at POGO
moke after the collision. Preided over
by Deputy Sheriff Crawford Hillman
and Justice of the Peace John T. Ril-
ey, acting coroner, the jury decided
that bad weather and slippery roads
were responsible for the accident.
Phillips, who was killed instantly, is
survived by his widow and a 2-year-
old daughter, Shirley Anne.
There does not appear any remedy
for such accidents. There is one ele-
ment entering into these catastrophes
that cannot be controlled-the human
element. The man at the wheel drives
as the thinks proper, and it is safe to
say, danger of sacrificing his own life
never enters into the case.
When the accident happens, it hap
pens as a result of human error in
judgment. How is this to be control
led? How are you going to make
over the steersman? How are wise
heads to be put on young shoulders?
How are safety laws and safety de-
vices to help, when the human mind
refuses to take note? The creature
man is as he is, and in death-dealing
juggernaut as motor car, it looks
as if he is still to continue a peril to
himself and the public generally.
Baltimore City is sponsoring a
which appeals more to the
common sense and judgment of the
driver than any yet seen. It is called
''The Social Premium Plan" In COM
upon present conditions, the
Council has the following to say:
Drastic laws and more police have
failed to prevent accidents. Re-exami-
nation of licensed drivers will not keep
the reckless driver from having &C.
cidents; worst offenders can pass the
highest in physical test, few accidents
ire caused by poor vision. The statis-
;ics show that there are more acct
tents on boulevards." That is to say,
he human element is in full sway, be
t tending toward safety or ruin.
Here is an outline of the plan pro-
posed:
'"The State will award an Honor or
Merit emblem with each license plate.
They are to be worn over both license
plates, front and back. These Honor
badges will be revoked by the Com
missioner of Automobiles or other au-
,horized jurisdiction, upon conviction
If gross negligence or other major vio-
atoms in addition to the present fines
md penalties being made. The driver
hus penalized will be given pink OPP
'rator's card in place of the present
green one and they will be compelled
% drive their car or any other car
Turing the period of probation without
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