The Washington herald., 1916-04-03
New Traffic Rules Needed.

The record of the police department for thirty
days OF last month showing that total of 47I
motorists were arrested proves not only discrimi-
nation but that the traffic regulations and the
method of enforcing them are failures. The daily
average of arrests of operators of motor vehicles
including motorcycles, is slightly under sixteen,
and single observant pedestrian could not fail
in days travel to discover a greater number of
violations of the traffic rules, as they are now
written. Probably not one-tenth of those who
disregard the regulations in the course of day
are arrested. The superintendent of police ad-
mts that his instructions to his men are to pay
particular attention to reckless drivers, and not
to be too eager to make arrests for technical
violations. Under the present regulations this
order is sensible and commendable, even though
it invites discrimination the part of the police
and in any event, leaves too much to their dis
creton. But in addition policemen quoted as
saying that they hesitate to arrest the drivers Of
commercial vehicles,> because they realize that
many of these drivers compelled by their
employers to pay their own fines and unable
to afford it. So while there is ample evidence
of discrimination, it appears to be highly neces-
sary evil.
Inc dIIcSh OF Az persons III unity days, conf
prising but small percentage of those who vio-
lated the regulations may be regarded as con-
elusive proof of the mpractcability of those regu-
lations 1t is not reasonable to suppose that even
the comparatively few actual offenders who were
arrested deliberately invited Police Court fines and
it is the almost unanimous testimony of careful
and conscientious motorists that they are COM
PEELED to break the traffic rules every day.
Obviously there is something wrong with regu-
latons which, though only erraticaly enforced,
lead to the arrest of All persons in month, and
which it is physical impossibty to obey.
In justice to the District Commissioners and
the superintendent of police it must be said that
they evince eagerness to cooperate with the
owners and operators Of motor vehicles in an
effort to find remedy for present annoying and
unsatisfactory conditions, and it would seem that
frank and friendly exchange of views ought to
result=in a solution of the problem in the form
OF new regulations or radical amendments to the
present ones.
Washington has the advantage of broad streets,
and traffic has not yet become so dense as to
demand drastic measures for its control. H GER
tanly must be quite possible to safeguard the
lives and limbs of pedestrians and the rights of
all who use the public streets without arresting
All persons in thirty days while many more Of
tenders permitted to escape. 1t has in fact
been argued with some reason that the really
dangerous offenders, those who fail to adjust
their speed to the surroundings, escape the pen
atty more frequently than those who are guilty
of mere technical infractons that do not threaten
the public safety. At any rate recent occurrences
and agitation indicate clearly that the regulations
are not adapted to present conditions. Traffic
rules that leave nothing to the discretion of the
police may not be possible, but there is room
for great improvement. Plainly the need is for
regulations that will protect the interests of all
concerned, that motorists will be able to observe
under all save the most extraordinary circum-
stances, and that will therefore command re-
spect, and that may be enforced without discrimi-
nation. The formulation of such rules should not
be difficult task if undertaken in the right way
by the right men.