The Washington times., 1917-10-22
EXAMINATION
FOR LICENSE
TODR|VE CAR
TO Be STRICT
BY BILL PRICE.


The examination OF applicants for
licenses to drive automobiles Is TO
be made stricter as a plan of dinin-
fishing automobile accidents in the
District.
There is practically unanimous
agreement in official circles that
many accidents here are due to the
licensing of persons as drivers VINO
are not fully qualifed-only super
ncially familiar with traf1fc reguia-
tions and the handling OF cars ana
often Of irresponsible temperament
and character.
There is no wish to injure the auto
mobile industry. There is, on the con-
trary, every reason to believe that
automobile agencies will cheerfully
cooperate in any effort TO educate
purchasers of machines to all neces-
oary requirements to improve trafhc
I conditions.
Judge Alexander r Mullowny, one
l. of the police court Judges before
fvhom innumerable cases OF tranic
violations have been tried, discussing
the important subject of traffic with
The Times Representatives, said:
"SpeedIng is not the cause of as
many accidents in the District as sup
posed. From my experience / think
mat greater care should be exercised
in the issue of licenses TO chauneurs
and owners. Irresponsibility and
recklessness are often found in the
: cases of drivers who never exceed the
lTSpeed limits"
" Officials Divtned As to Means.
: Wade Coombs, in charge Of the
automobile license bureau Of the Dis
trict Building, and Major Pullman,
6uperintendent OF Police, diner con-
siderably as to the methods to be en-
ployed in Tightening up on the issue
a. licenses.
I'VE do the best we can, under pres
ent requirements, to handle the
license situation" said Mr.. Coombs to-
day.
scoms before us; in fact we turn down
snve or six each day, and they must
come back better posted on trafiic
sregulations before we give them per-
hnits. What think should be done,
Though, is to require each applicant
TO file an affidavit. sworn to before a
notary, that he has had at least q
weeks experience in driving car,
and that he has read the traftic regu-
lationS.
Possibly q still better plan would
be to send each applicant before an
officer Of the police traffic board for
careful examination as to traffic reg.
uIations, and, II necessary, a trial test
with an automobile.
Some States require affidavits, a.
have suggested. but in Virginia driv-
ers are not required to secure an
operators permit"
Women Are Safe Drivers.
Clerks in Mr.. Coombs' office com.
mented upon the fact that while
women who secure operators permits
seem less familiar than men with
traffic regulations they have fewer
accidents, comparatively, than men,
due to careful driving and avoidance
of danger. They often give other
drivers trouble, though, because OF
unfamiliarity with regulations.
Major Pullman, who is in constant
touch with traffic arrests, and who
unhesitatingly lays most OF the blame
for accidents to excessive speed al
crossings and elsewhere, sees no occa
sion for applicants to be examined by
men of his traffic squad, and makes
a suggestion that may be adopted by
the Commissioners. His plan is:
Each applicant for an operators
permit should be compelled to file q
copy OF the traffic regulations. copied
In his or her own handwriting, to
demonstrate that the regulations
have been read. This should be In
addition to the usual examination.
It was pointed out by both Major
Pullman and Mr.. Coombs that many
persons who obtain operators permits
are coached on some OF the more i'm
portant parts OF the traffic regula
tions about which they are examined