The New York herald., 1922-01-25


New York Herald Bureau,
Albany. Jan. "a.
Creation oe a new department to
reckless driving which resulted last
year III 1881 deaths IN this State is
proposed by the joint legislative COM
mittec in report submitted to-day to
the Senate and Assembly.
More than 10000 were injured by
automobiles in the State and the per-
centage of accidents upstate was
larGer than in New York city, the COM
strictly enforcing speed laws through
the State and the bonding of motor
vehicle owners or enactment of q
law requiring compulsory insurance
ures proposed. The report says:
"Non-enforcement Of the traffic law
and 4he motor vehicle law is almost
universal throughout the State. Condi-
tions in cities are better than elsewhere.
In most localities no effort at enforce
ment is made.
1--WE recommend law providing for
a motor vehicle commissioner with
ample powers and sufficient force Of
inspectors and examiners to enforce the
laws. State police might well be used
to assist in. the work of conserving hui
man life and property. The toll Is too
great. with 1881 killed and 10000 injured,
to neglect longer this important matter.
Other States are reducing motor vehicle
accidents, while in New York they are
rapidly increasing.
Real Menace Exists.
Careless. incompetent and irrespon-
sible operators constitute a real menace
to those who use our highways. We
recommend a Statewide operators IL
cense, with the age limit of not under
eighteen years. Outside the city Of
New York there Is practically no limita-
ton as to who may drive a motor Wee
hlcle, and we find the child, the aged
person. the lame, the blind and the
deaf, dealing out death TO those who
use our roads.
ALLOW no one to ouperate a car with
out a license and provide for suspen-
sions and revocations, and carefully
scrutinize all applicants for licenses and
this trouble can be controlled.
Speeding causes more loss of life
than any other one thing in connec-
tion with motor vehicles Suspension or
revocation has been found to be the best
method OF dealing with this evil.
"Overloading of trucks and then OPP
Grating them Of excessive speed renders
these vehicles entirely beyond control.
This practice is also destroying our
highways.
"All trucks should be limited as to
load and speed. New York is far be.
hind most other States in this matter.
Testing stations Urged.
Defective or inadequate equipment is
the direct cause OF many accidents. The
glarng headlights. improperly adj
justed brakes and other defects could
be remedied by establishing testing sta
tions on main roads, the same as is done
In other States. Our headlight law is
a farce and should be brought down to
date at once. Here again is shown the
need Of am enforcement official
Financial responsibility of many
owners and operators results In the un-
fair distribution Of the economic waste
caused by deaths, personal injuries and
property damage from motor vehicle ac-
cidents. This subject is the most COM
plex and difficult OF any the committee
has attempted TO deal with.
Should the rule OF law as to, con-
tributory negligence be modified so far
as responsible owners are concerned, in
the interest of society, which ultimately
Is called upon to bear the burden where
responsible owners escape through lack
Of legal liability?
How should we deal with owners
who have no financial responsibility to
respond in damages for injury to per-
sons and property through their negli-
gence?
Three methods have been suggested.
all of which have warm advocates and
none of which seem fully adequate to
meet the situation alone. Compulsory
bonding by every motor vehicle owner
as security 10 others: compulsory in
surance against liability TO others. COM
pulsory compensation Insurance to cover
all cases of injury to persons or prop
erty.
Your committee Is still considering
the last three propositions in the hope
OF finding some proper solution that can
be Incorporated into law
ALDERMEN PLAN CHECK