The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-09-30
Baltimore Citizens of Auto Licensing Cited as Model
 More Citizens State VieUs

In connection with the agitation in Birmingham and lessenjng automobile accidents. attention has been called to some of the regulations in Baltimore. In the first place, it is claimed that Baltimore has less automobile accidents than any other city in the union in pro- portion to it's size.
 In Baltimore the narrow streets are designated as one-way traffic streets and automobiles are allowed to go in but one direction along these streets.
 But the most important feature is the requirement of a drivers license before anyone can operate car In the city. City examiners go out with the appli- cant, and there is first issued trial license, which is good for only a month. If the drivers ability at the end of that lime is satisfactory to the examiner a permanent license is issued. No one 1an drive a car on the city streets who loes not possess one of these licenses. Even visitors going to the city cannot use the streets until the examiner has oeen satisfied that such visitor knows LOW to drive q car. A Birmingham wom- an, who had been driving her own car or five or six years when she took her ar to Baltimore for a few weeks. had to go with the examiner and show him hat she knew how to drive before she could get even a visitors license and lrive her own car on the streets. Li- enses from certain other cities which have similar regulations are recognized y the Baltimore authorities, but the lisitor from a city where no such .regu- ations exist must invariably stand the examination.
 This regulation is considered especially important for consideration in Birming- nam. where so many children are per- nitted to drive on the crowded thorough
 res, and against whom some of the chief complaints have been made TOT speeding.
 MRS. s. l.. LEDBETTER
 The two horrible automobile acc.- Tents which occurred Monday may prove :, blessing in disguise to - ningham, hid Mrs. s. L. Ledbetter, chairman 1T he League of Women Voters. They rave made people think of the <grave langer of breaking the traffic laws and hey have made the police force lar nore active in arresting the speeders ind traffic law offenders. 1 have no iced it in front of my own house on Tenth avenue, where there is such q speedway. "Since the two accidents occurred there have been policemen on Tenth ave Aue catching the speeders every few ml utes during the day, and night, too,, suppose for there is no cessation of trat- sic until a very late hour and the speed srs whizz by any time during the swenty-four hours. Every man acting as lis own policeman is the best method o1 stopping the dangerous habit. If eacn person would feel personal responsi- bility for observing the law there Wouiu bo no motor car accidents.
 R. A. BROWN
 Irresponsible persons driving auto mobiles is the main reason for autono- bile accidents is the belief of R. A. Brown.
 "The laws are not obeyed," he said' because the officers do not try to en- force them. Even when they are ar rested there is no fine put on the off fender, or if there is it is such light one that it makes no impression.
 MT Brown suggested that if the speeder's license was taken from him here would be fewer persons trying to break the record of Barney Oldfield oa the streets of Birmingham.
 'I do not know whether there is such ! law giving the police the right to re- yoke speeder's license" he continued, but if there is not one should be en- acted at once. Chauffeurs, both white and black, seem to be on one grand joy ride Thirty. sixty or ninety days with out license would soon reduce the num- Der of speeders."
 JOHN H. TAYLOR
 From January to September l. 1919