New-York tribune., 1922-01-25
Miller to Urge
State Control
OfAuto Traffic,
Will Ask Creation of Motor
Department to Cut Down
Mounting Loss of Life
i'll Highway Accidents
1881 Killed During Year
Same Requirements Pro"
posed for Drivers in Rural
Districts as in Cities
Tyo,n a Ssor Corresponden.


ALBANY, Jan. 23.-Governor Miller
soon vii! send q special message to
The Legislature urging the creation Of
motor vehicle department to cut down
the constantly mounting loss Of life
and property through outom obilc acci-
dents.
The message will he predicated on
the recommendations Of the Lowman
Motor Vehicle Accident Investigating
Committee, which after year OF labor.
will eubmit its report to the Logis~
lature tomorrow.
Tho committee. OF which Senator
Seymour Lowman, Of Elniira, is chair
man, completed its report tonight. 1t
is signed by the entire membership, i'll
c!uding the minority, headed by Sena-
tor Nathan Straus jr.. of New York..
The committee finds that in this
state there was 30 per cent increase
in deaths and accidents from automo-
oiles last year. There we're 1881
killed outright in the public highways
BY motor vehicles, and moro than
10000 seriously injured. The commit
tee vas unable TO caiculate the prop
erty,loss, but estimated chat it amounts
to Several millions annualiy.''
A statewide operators license is
recommended and the enactment Of a
Law creating q motor vehicle depart
meNt 20 enforce the laws.
Conditions Best in City
The faults Of tl.s present method o.
handling the huge automobile traffic in
the state and the recommendations Of
the investigators are summarized II
the report Ao follows:
That Non-enforcement Of the traffic
law and the motor vehicle law is al
most universal throughout the state.
elsewhere. IL ross localities 10 cfFort
st enforcement Is made. The state has
approached the subject almost entirely
Irom the revenue producing point of
view. The great volume os cratic now
using our highways would seem to de-
mand strict regulation 1nd enforce
.Ient.
eve recommend law providing for
a n otor vehicle commissioner with an.-
inspectors and examiners to eAforco
the avs. State police might we'll be
used to assist in this Norl: OF con-
serving human life and property.
"Csreless, incompetent and irrcspo,.~
sib,o operators constitute "a real NEIL
ace TO those who use our Highways
We recommend a statewide OPERATOR
license, with tl.s age limit of not under
eighteen years Outside tne city OF
New York, she.o ;s practically 10 liIri.
ra5ions as 30 w!so may drive q motor
vehicle, and We fad the child, the aged
person. the lame, the blind and tho
r -,.i.
use our roads. Allow no one to operate
car without license and provide fo7
suspension and revocation, and care
FULLY scru$ini.e all applications for II.
censes and this trouble can &c cor
trollcd.
"speeding causes more loss OF lie
than any othe- one thing in connection
witl. motor vehicles. Fortunately the
offenders themselves are usually the
greatest sufferers. Suspension o. rev
ocatior haS been found to be the best
method Of dealing viii. this evil.
Trucks Running Highway.
"overloading Of trucks and t1e..
operating them at excessive speed rem
cers these vehicles entirely beyond con
srol. This practice IS also destroying
our highways All trucks should be
.:snlted as to load and speed New York
3 far behind most other atates in this
matter. Careful inspection on the roads.
with heavy fines III case Of violations,
you'd soon put a STOP to this trouble.
"Deiecsive or Inadequate equiplne.;
IS the direct cause Of many accidents.
The glaring headlights, improperly at-
justcd brakes ard other defects, could
be renedied by establishing testing
stations o.. main roads. Our headlight
Law is tarco end should be brought
down to date al once. Here again is
shown the need OF al enforcement Of
; .icial.
Financial responsibility os 1rany
owners and operators results in the
unfair distribution os tho economic
/ waste caused by deaths, personal in
juries ard property damage s.on. mo
tor vehicle sccioerts.''
The committee declares that II i.
enaeavorlns 70 find q remedy for this
last. which it characterized as the n?ost
complex problem corfront;up 4.