The New York herald., 1922-09-04
GRAND JURY ASKS
JAIL FOR MOTORISTS
Sends Special Presentment
to District Attorney and
State Officials.
RESULT OF INQUIRIES
Care in Licensing and More
Stringent Traffic Rules
Advocated.
EAR AND EYE TEST URGED
Automatic Limit to Speed of
Business Vehicles Is
Proposed.
EAR AND EYE TEST URGED

More stringent examination OF tnOSc
licensed to drive automobiles. more
stringent traffic regulations, more
strictly enforced and Jail sentences
instead of fines for violators of the
motor vehicle laws, are among the
recommendations contained in a pre-
sentiment by the August Grand Jury,
copies of which have been sent to
the District Attorney. the State Tax
Department Chief Magistrate Nc
Adoo, Third Deputy Police Commits
sioner John a. Harriss and others,
and made public yesterday.
The findings of the Grand Jury
are based on inquiries and inyestiga-
tons made by it and the minute. as
1t is called contains much OF the
material upon which the conditions
are based, including a table showing
the number of persons. 213, killed in
the Borough Of Manhattan alone dur
ing the first six months of 1922. OF
those killed 115 were over IS years
of age and 9S were under that age
More Rigid Examination.
Besides declaring that there are too
many accidents and homicides caused by
automotive vehicles and that its min
utes should be submitted to Judge
koenig and the Others mentioned. and
to the foreman OF the September Grand
Jury. the August Grand Jurors assert. .
the State Tax Department should be
more rigid and thorough in tests be-
fore granting owners and drivers
licenses
That the traffic regulations should
be made more stringent and be more
strictly enforced.
That an automatic device should be
installed on all commercial vehicles
limiting their speed to a reasonable
degree
That whenever possible Jail sem
tences follow convictions for infrac-
tions OF the law. instead OF fines.
From the Motor Vehicle Bureau the
Grand Jury learned that since January |
there have been licensed in the greater
city 19S,077 pleasure automobiles. 62.6SS
commercial automobiles, 15,492 taxicabs.
353 trailers and 7,3T0 motorcycles. The
total of registered automobile dealers rs
1902, there are 2s9,793 licensed chauf-
feurs and 275.342 licensed operators
(owners) )-565,1 las persons driving motor
vehicles.
The minute then sets forth in detail
the facts concerning the 2i3 fatal auto
mobile accidents and makes five recon =
mendations. follows:
I'VE recommend that with applica-
tions for chauffeurs and operators
licenses physicians and occulist's GER
tificate be filed certifying to the general
health. hearing and eyesight OF the ap-
plicant. and that licenses be granted only
TO those apparently possessing normal
hearing and vision.
1--WE recommend that applicants for
owners and drivers licenses be furnished
with the Motor Vehicle law OF the State
of New York and the New York city
automotive regulations.
1--WE recommend that all municipal.
automotive omnibuses discharge pas
sengers at curb lines OF the streets IN
stead Of the middle OF roadways.
1--WE recommend that at all congested
traffic points throughout the city the
same alternate crossing OF pedestrians
and passage OF automotive vehicles be
installed as now obtains along Fifth
avenue, a portion of Broadway, &c.
I'VE recommend also that the authori-
ties having charge OF traffic matters con-
fer with similar officers OF other locali-
ties with view to effecting similarity
of traffic regulations and the adoption
of a uniform standard system of hand
signalling by automotive vehicle oper-
ators."