Evening star., 1923-01-05
Wider Streets Urged to Cut
DOlUn ID. C.. Traffic accidents
Subcommittee of Board of Trade Also
Recommends More One-Way Streets
and StriCter Permit Rules.

Widening of streets in the congest-
ed part of the city, more one-way
streets, strict examinations of appll-
cants for drivers permits and
variable speed limit containing
recklessness clause will do much TO-
ward relieving present and future
traffic conditions in Washington. in
the opinion of the special subcommlt-
tee on traffic of the public order COM
mittee OF the Washington Board OF
Trade.
The committee. which met yester-
day afternoon in the boardrooms IN
The Star building, discussed the ls-V
traffic report of the public order COM
mittee. The committee will bring the
report up to date and submit 1t to
the public order committee lot S
nrovaI. II will then be read at the
pext full meeting OF the Board OF
Trade. w. Pearce Rayner, charms an
of the motor corps, is chairman OF
the committee.
Approves Reciprocity.
The committee yesterday approved
the gasoline tax plan for prihsiHs
about reciprocity between Marylano
and the District. 1t believes that THIS
matbod is the only workable one TOT
eating this much desired pro1ec'
through. a,,+I,r 70
this matter reads: iii, IN
nIEa heartily indorse any Dill III
c,onrress which will insure full reel
nrocity in the use of licenses pet" cen
aI the states and the District OF 90
Iuno hia even if 1t Involves the sao
+ax. with a nominal fee Tor the tass.
It was pointed out by IneIiipeLS ~
The committee that with the gas TAX
;n afTact a District motorist Wouio
onIv have to buy a District NceHse.
IIa uoIIId then be free to traVei IN
MARYLAND and the District he "ou,u,
however, pay as he rides, because ne
would have to pay cents nt naUr -
Gallon for gas, whether he oouGnC II
=. Washington or in Maryland. ROAD
nf7ciaIs are of the belief that the gas
tay is the most equitable plan Ioi
motor taxation. T,is+rict
Widening of certain of the Dlstrlct
streets, which, committee mem menhoG,1 h1
saw. can be easily accomplished py
cutting down some of the useless
sideIUaIl space, is an immeolate
: necessity The committee recon-
mends that E street be widened from
5th street to 18th, l2th from NeM s
IStb street from II to K, as Well as
other main arteries which are jam
med with traffic at practically All
times of the day.
THE committee also urges tnat NOR
ona~wav streets be put into erect I'M
mediafe1y. pointing out that IL is the
nnIv way to take care of the ever IN
creasing volume of traff1c IN WASH
ington.
Condemns Permit Method
"The committee strongly recon-
roands the establishment, wherever
If is considered wise by the police
department, of more one-way streets,
the report reads.
recommendations of the 1920 COM
mittee in condemning the method of
issuing permits.
'The method of issuing permits to
drive automobiles at present In force
is condemned" says the report. your
committee recommends that some
method be provided of giving rigid
examination to all applicants for per-
mits, covering eyesight, color blind
ness. hearing, mental fitness and
practical ability safely to handle an
automobile in traffic determined by a
road test with an expert examiner.
The granting of. permits to those
under the required age is inadvfsable,
as their strength or Judgment may
fail in an emergency"
The speed regulation clause in the
report was not IuIiy covered at the
meeting yesterday, but the indications
were that the committee would favor
the removal of all speed regulations;
similar to the plan now in force in
St Louis, where fewer accidents per
capita are said to be recorded than
in any other city in the country; with
the substitution of a strict reckless
ness clause which would effectually
handle the class Of drivers who would
take advantage Of such a law.
A drastic change in the present law
requiring a stop fifteen feet behind
street car will be urged by the
committee. The proposed law will al
low automobiles to pass around sta
tionary street cars as long as they
keep eight feet from an exit or en-
trance of a car.
Traffic Stop Rule.
The committee believes that much
congestion results from the arbitrary
f1fteen-foot rule; that automobile
drivers are inclined TO race to get by
street cars, in order to avoid stopping,
and that passengers getting on and
off cars Will have plenty Of room in
the enforcement of the eight-foot
opinion of the committee, will do
much to relieve traff1c congestion.
In further reference to street cars
the report reads:
"In the interest Of public safety, the
regulation regarding the speed of
street cars and the motorrnan's sig
nails to traffio should be 1gidly en-
forced. Street cars should carry rear
lirhtR showing Rreeu while Ynoyfu n.