Reckless Automobile Drivers: A Protest Against Fast And Careless Driving In Spokane’S Center From The Spokesman-Review, July 31, 1909

To the Editor of The Spokesman-Review: I grant that a two weeks’ residence hardly entitles one to the privileges of a critic. With dozens of conditions in your city that are commendable, I find but one that is truly a menace: That is the unrestricted “rights” of the automobilist.

I say unrestricted, for if there exists an ordinance presumed to regulate its use, it is either woefully lax or shamefully unenforced. I venture to say that I have seen no less than 50 machines exceeding 20 miles an hour in the heart of the business center on Riverside Avenue, with no perceptible reduction while turning corners. One motorcycle must have exceeded 30 miles an hour in the same section.

Not alone is the speed feature a source of danger, but the inattention on the part of many to what they are doing. As an illustration:

Not an hour since two machines crossed Riverside and Monroe driving fast toward First Avenue. An elderly lady was crossing Monroe from the Review corner. The first machine passed her, while the second one, about 75 feet behind, was making a straight line for her. The chauffeur had turned around and was talking to a young lady in the rear seat. But for the shrill whistle of a young man standing on the curb, the elderly lady would have been seriously injured, if not killed. As it was, the driver turned to his duty barely in time to turn out to one side and miss the lady.

I could cite several similar instances.

I concede that the speed maniac is found in every city and, while I have noted many careful, thoughtful drivers in Spokane, yet I feel safe in saying that the business center will yet witness an awful automobile accident unless this “careful, thoughtful element” receives many new recruits or those in authority require some consideration to be given people who travel afoot. Mart Sloan

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