Evening star., 1924-11-26
ASKS SIMPLE CODE
OF TRAFFIC LAWS
Frederic A. DeIano Wants
District to Eliminate
"Nuisance Rules"

While police and civil authorities
were continuing to grope today for
solution 10 Washingtons entangled
traffic problems, Frederic A. Delano,
vice chairman of Secretary Hoover's
special committee engaged in study
ing the country's traffic situation in
general. came forward with the ex-
pressed hope that the National Capt.
tai will forego too many laws" in
favor of simple traffic code that may
set "a national standard
Mr. Delano believes Washington
should eliminate many of the minor,
detailed regulations now in force
and promulgate, instead, general
set OF regulations governing reck-
less driving, coltiding, etc, leaving
TO the courts the duty of judging the
details OF each infringement.
General Speed" Discussed.
He Is an ardent supporter of the
contention that a general speed limit
is impractical BILE of administ ration,
because of the widely varying condi-
tions encountered not only in diff
ferent sections of the city. but from
block to block. He fayors instead a
TeChieSS uIlNlIls law
"a driver may be driving reck-
lessly at eight miles an hour. and en-
dangering the lives of pedestrians,
yet he surely is not speeding" Mr..
Delano pointed out "A reckless
driving law would remedy such in
equities of law. 1t is the only prac-
ticable method of Furnishing the un-
scrupulous or careless driver"
While not wishing to commit him
self on the plan OF the District Com
nissioners to urge the establishment
here of a separate traffic court, be-
cause he had not investigated the
situation, Mr.. Delano remarked that
the traffic court idea seemed a good one.
He pointed out that Great Britain
has her admiralty court to, try tech
nical naval cases, and stated that
specially equipped court familiar
with traffic conditions, should prove
just as valuable in judging traffic
cases, most OF which involve tech
nical problems that the ordinary
court is not adapted for handling Off
hand.
Uniform TrafHc Law Urged.
The United States should have uni
form traffic laws, and the Federal
City should take the initiative in
adopting a model code for others to
follow" the committee vice chair
man said.
Secretary Hoovers committee is
working now toward the end OF
nationally uniform set of regulations.
We hope to make some concrete
recommendations very shortly that
will appeal to Congress.
TT would be very helpful if the
National Capital could set q standard
which could be taken as the coun-
tryS model traffic code. This model
code should not go into details about
minor infractionS. 1t should, in my
opinion, be general outline of i'm
portant rules for the guidance of
the motorist and the protection of
the public. Too many regulations
confuse the public and the police
Law enforcement is hindered rather
than helped. A general code will not
easily be misunderstood. The unen-
forceable regulations will be cleared
away and the traffic situation sim
plified greatly.
VIII Submit Recommendations.
Recommendations along this line
will be submitted to the National
Conference on Street and Highway
Safety when 1t meets here Decembr
10.
The District Commissioners. mean
while, are preparing to bring to the
attention of Congress serious defects
in Washington'S present traffic code,
especially with regard to the penalty
for certain violations. Authority to
impose jail terms on collision fugi-
tives and traffic criminals will be
among the important amendments
sought, 1t is understood.
1t is expected. also, that the Com
missioners again will urge the es-
tablishment of a special traffic court,
as provided for in the bill introduced
in 1921 by Representative Zihlman of
Maryland.
See Court "Desperately Needed"
The local police and municipal
authorities maintain that the extra
court is desperately needed at once
to take care of a vast accumulation
Of traffic cases under the present
court system. The congestion is so
great. they declare, that culpable
motorists are delaying indefinitely
the administration of justice by
crowding the already overloaded
dockets with demands for jury trials.
which must await their turn.
Police are indignant to find that the
traffic criminals" they succeed in
catching are allowed to go free, to
all intents an purposes, because of
court congestion. Maj. Sullivan,
superintendent of ploice, has made
several recommendations in the past
that this handicap be eliminated by