New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-16
MAGISTRATE FREDEp..
1'A lex B. HOUSE of tie
Traffic Court

1TuUtc court
have anywhere near as many anso
mobiles as New York.
"The business of these inspecto,
is to give road tests to persons coo,
ing licenses to operate automob;,s,
New York State has about 700 od
automobiles, and of these ahon
100000 are in New York Citv !,
a year from 100000 to 125. 900 ma,
apply to the Secretary of State 70,
these road tests, and there are il
the great State of New York onl,
SIX inspectors to give them.
"a road test is intended to nro,
the applicants fitness to drive
car and is a protection to the pus
lie against inefficiency, recklessnes
and other dangers which are meu.
ace to life and limb, but the condj.
tons under which these tests hau
been made in New York City an
such as virtually to make them val
ueless.
From fifty to three hundred per.
sons will apply for operators Il.
censes a day at the Office at Sixty.
fifth Street and Broadway, and there
probably will be one inspector on
hand to examine them. The other in.
spectors may be busy elsewhere, and
for no fault of their own.
"The idea of making adequate
tests under such conditions is ah
surd, and many accidents and viols
lions of the traffic laws are due b
the fact that operators licenses an
granted to persons who are not en-
titled to them.
Wants More inspectors
Therefore, l sincerely hope Chat
the general plan for economy an.
nounced by Governor Miller will moi
prevent a very material amplifcs
ton of the force Of inspectors WIN
Will see to it that the unfit and til
inexperienced and the reckless AT
not granted the privilege Of endsr
gering the lives Of the people Of tha
city.
THAT Is one thing would re-
ommend as a measure to prevent al.
cidents and keep down the number Of
violations.
8" other thing I would recon
me 4 is an extension of traffic So
pe1vision to parts of the city nov
left unguarded. We have $4,000 cor
ners in New York City, and Of thes'
about 700 are covered by policemen
There are about 750 policemen o.
traffic duty in New York, whereas
we should have about $500 at least
Those who are troubled about the
cost should think Of the hursn
lives that are needlessly sacrlhee'
and of the persons who are cripped
Think of the children who aIs
manned and of the suffering that's
caused by these accidents.
Last year 746 persons, or nor
than an average Of two for each assf
were killed by automobiles in Ne'
York City, and I am convinced tnS
many Of these fatalities could nav
been avoided.
Court Can't Do Ii All
$50 far as adequate fines ana pun
ishment by prison sentence can Afsp
down the number of violations W.
Traffic Court of Manhattan IS resa'
to contribute to the utmost OF ~
facilities, although | must say 'De'
continuing the work with the SAW
force as we had at the beginnlhss
somewhat of strain and plsss'
much constructive work.
"As I have already explained
cuses in cases where guilt IS c'S'Iy
established is not accepted ~ -
court by me, and those VINO psss g.
the laws are punished and VII w
tinue to be punished.
"But the two recommenda'l''N
have made / look upon as vital =.
if New York desires this year
avoid it's experiences OF las' 20 =
with inevitable additions. it mus :
two things:
Increase the number OF. mp
tors examining would-be n'0'o'
and
extend the traffic regulations
the city to unguarded corherA