Golf

Fair Play Most Effective Means of Combating Highway Hazards, A. A. A. President Says

WASHINGTON, D. C. An attitude of fair play on the part of all motorists as a substitute for increasing legislation to combat the lack of respect some drivers show for the rights of others is advocated by the American Automobile Association.

Thos. P. Henry, president of the A.A.A., commenting on the need for mutual consideration of the comfort and safety of one's fellow motorists, declares that all highway safety program is to be successful. It makes possible, he says, the remedy of traffic hazards by realizing one's moral obligations instead of resorting to wider police supervision.

The A.A.A. head, who made several long distance motor trips in 1925 to secure first-hand information, had plenty of opportunity to note instances of the lack of comeraderie on the highways. One of the most annoying features observed during these trips was the reluctance of local drivers to allow through traffic to pass them.

“The motorist who does not give way and move over to his own side of the road when a driver in the rear sounds his horn is not merely a violator of motor vehicle legislation in most states but a menace to others who must drive with him,” says Mr.

Henry. “We observed many instances of this fault on our trips. I believe it is the experience of long distance tourists everywhere. Too many local drivers seem to have the impression that the man who attempts to pass merely wants to demonstrate the superiority of his car.

“There is no law to compel a driver to go into second gear on a hill if he cannot maintain a reasonable rate of speed on the upgrade, but in the interests of his own safety and the convenience of others who use the roads he is morally obligated to maintain a fair rate of speed. If a car is crawling along in high gear, the man behind is tempted to risk passing when the approach of other cars makes this hazardous. It is not fair to other users of the road for any driver to struggle along in high gear when he had a second gear at his disposal. Such a motorist is as much a menace as the man who mistakes the highway for a speedway.

“In order to contribute to the general safety of the highways, the progressive and thinking driver must go out of his way to compensate for another's unintentional miscalculation,” Mr. Henry says. “It frequently happens that a motor will begin to fail a driver just a he is trying to pass another car. Under ordinary conditions it might be simple enough for him to drop back, but should another car be following close behind and a second car approaching, the situation at once becomes dangerous. That is the time the driver of the car being overtaken must slow down in order that the passing driver can get ahead as he had first planned.

“Many experienced drivers tell me that they find so many motorists who are unwilling to let them pass that they have been obliged to form the habit of not sounding their horn until they are almost past. The driver who does not want to give way then has less opportunity to step on the gas. This doubtless may work out well enough as a matter of technique in driving, but from the safety standpoint it must be considered as a real hazard. There would be serious trouble if the unwarned driver suddenly made a left turn.

“Only through emphasizing the need for fair play can progress be made in highway safety. It is possible to develop a law enforcement policy so perfect as to apply to every one of the thousands of miles of heavily traveled highways. The improvement must come from the motorists themselves. They must play fair with each other.” “Never play golf Mamie? Well, I'll tell the cock-eyed world that no one but a dumb Benny would go out chasing the pill over the hills and dales. I went out yesterday to show off my new sport suit and golf clubs and soon's I got there I hears a wise John holler “Four” and when I turned around to see why he hollered, socko -I got a crack with a golf ball. Mad, why, Mamie, I was so mad I nearly went home and made a salad, well I says, real lady-like, “Why in hell doncha say when you're gonna sock that apple.” He comes back with “Why do ya suppose I hollered 'Four'?” And I say “I'll bite, why did ya?” You know, Mamie I always did have a snappy line. Well that wise Ben-jamin didn't have nothin' to say to that so he just walked away.

Well by then I decided to do a little sockin' my self so I waltzed over to the first tee, that's where ya start, Mamie. I took a healthy swing at the ball an' it whizzed away. The damn thing only went about four yards. This here course is generally went around in about 42. Well, Mamie would you believe it, I done it in 44. I'm goin' back sometime an' play the other 7 holes.

While I was lookin' for my ball in the swamp once a guy comes along lookin' for his. Well he finds it and says to his caddythat's the boy who carries the clubs “My boy, this is a good game.” I says, “What's it good for?” Well say, Mamie, that game ain't nothin' but walk. If ever I had to walk home from an auto ride half as far as I walked playin' that game, I'd be sore. An' watcha got after you're there? Nothin,' any Joe Sap can bang a ball around. That don't require no special intelligence. Anyhow, I don't look so good in sport clothes.

Oh, by the way, Mamie, d'ya want to buy a new sport outfit golf stick's an' all. What? Well for crying out loud, you don't hafta get sore just caus I ask ya, do ya? Golf is a good game. You'd like it. Well of all the nerve gettin sore cause I give ya a chance to grab off a bargain. What, oh go soak your head in a pail of water 3 times and pull it out twice.