Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog.net

Before “Accident,” Deadly Driving Was “Homicide By Automobile”

In the early 20th century “chauffeur” was synonymous with “motorist,” and by 1906 Life Magazine had had enough of them.

Newspaper cartoon from 1923. Via 99% Invisible
Newspaper cartoon from 1923, when the press still recognized traffic violence as a motorist problem. Via 99% Invisible
false

Doug Gordon at Brooklyn Spoke dug up a column titled “Get After the Chauffeurs,” in which Life reported on a two-vehicle crash in Central Park that killed several people, including the driver who caused the collision. “That one got his dues,” the magazine said. “His reckless driving was a crime. The result was homicide. If he had not been killed he should have been sent to State’s prison.”

The column questions why reckless chauffeurs go unpenalized for their “antics,” and compares “homicide by automobile” to “homicide with a gun.”

From Life:

There will be some legitimate automobile accidents, just as there are runaway-horse accidents, but they should be few. Horses are irresponsible, and cannot be punished for running away. Chauffeurs, as a rule, are very imperfectly responsible, but they can be punished for running away and held accountable for the harm they do.

Gordon notes that today, it's the mainstream media that empathize with the chauffeurs while people who decry traffic violence are now called “advocates."

Compare the above to stories of drivers who “lost control” of their cars before killing innocent victims. In some cases, news sites such as DNAInfo.com even describe the car itself as the thing that was “out-of-control,” never mentioning a driver, as if the car was some sort of sentient animal that got spooked. Like, say, a horse.

Elsewhere on the Network today: Greater Greater Washington reports on plans to bring housing and transit to the Seven Corners area of Fairfax, Virginia; and Washington Bikes says Kidical Mass is taking off in Washington State.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

How to Build a Better Sustainable Transportation Pilot

Pop-up projects and trial runs can build support for new street safety ideas and new alternatives to driving — or they can turn the public against a project before it even gets off the ground. A new study outlined how to avoid the most common pilot pitfalls.

April 15, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines Ship Carbon Restrictions

The International Maritime Organization agreed to the first-ever global tax on carbon emissions. The U.S. is not participating, of course.

April 15, 2025

Monday’s Headlines Can’t Afford Trump’s Tariffs

If you take a walk he'll tax your feet. Cause he's the taxman. Yeah, he's the taxman.

April 14, 2025

Free Buses Would Mean 12% Faster Rides And 20% More Riders: Study

Want faster buses? Make them free. The benefits will end up paying for themselves, says Charles Komanoff.

April 14, 2025

Are State ‘Victim Funds’ Adequately Compensating Crash Survivors and Their Loved Ones?

Crime Victims Compensation Funds across America are helping make the survivors of violent crime whole again. But too often, victims of traffic violence get left out.

April 14, 2025
See all posts