Strange Suggestion for the Prevention of Accidents: Third Degree Punishment Should the Chinese Society fo¥ the Protection of Life have its way Shanghai motor-car owners and drivers are to have no end of trouble.
At a meeting held on Sunday afternoon, it was decided to send a petition to-the secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Council in the following terms, which were drafted after the meeting "Shanghai is a place where many lives are lost. Reports of deaths caused by accidents, especially by motor cars, are heard of practically every day. This Society has been formed with a view to putting an end to this nuisance.
"As the tyres of motor-cars are made of rubber, they make no noise when moving; therefore, it is suggested that a bell be attached to the front wheel of every motor car in order that pedestrians and others may be warned and prepared against approaching motor cars.
"With reference to the speed limit, we would suggest that this be carefully observed by drivers and enforced by the police. With the exception of ambulances, fire motor engines, police wagons and doctors' motor cars, no car shall be allowed to exceed the speed limit. Inspectors shall be appointed and be on duty from 8 a.m. till 8 p.m. In busy places their hours shall terminate at midnight. Their duty shal be to take down the numbers of speeding motor-cars, cars which are on the wrong side of the roads, or those who fail to observe the municipal regulations. Licence fees shall be increased, and the salaries of these inspectors shall be paid from the extra money received.
Bapces ror Dr-vers.
"Each motor-car driver shall wear in a conspicuous place a white brass plate, size three inches, on which shall be engraved his name in both Chinese and English, together with his licence number. These plates shall be issued by the Council upon payment of a sum to be fixed by the Council, preferably several taels. Persons without licences shall not be allowed to drive motor-cars.
"Cargo wagons must be covered with wire netting so that goods will not fall and injure passers-by. Goods must not be loaded too high because it is extremely dangerous, especially when crossing bridges.
"On all motor vehicles, regardless of whether they be cargo wagons or ordinary cars, there must be another person besides the driver. He shall sit at the back of the vehicle and warn people when the car is turning corners and when it is about to back. Persons owning motor-cars can certainly pay this man's salary, as well as the other items mentioned.
"Motor cars must never, under any pretext whatever, pass a tram which has halted, it being very dangerous to the lives of those boarding or alighting from tramcars.
"Between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nanking Road shall be reserved exclusively for motor-cars, other vehicles must go from west to cast and rice versa by other roads.
Tne Cxawen or Horrors.
"Should there be any loss of life or injury to persons, wax models of deceased or injured, showing the place where the person was struck, shall be made and placed in a small room, in which the driver of the motor-car at fault shall be locked so that he will be careful in future. This method has been found very successful in America and we think would prove equally successful here in Shanghai."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.