Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-11-25
PROPOSE STANDARD
RULES RESTRICTIONS
REGARDING AUTOS

primarily al TcCklcSS OiNlu6s Civ
examination and licensing of all mo-
tor vehicle operators. with q ban on
the mentally or physically unfit as
well as persons under III years OF
age or who cannot read English. are
among the outstanding recommen-
dations made by the Committee on
Traffic Control of the National Con-
ference on Street and, Highway
Safety to Secretary Hoover, which
will be presented at sessions of the
conference in Washington on Deem
Der 10, 16. and IL.
Traffic central and traffic law en-
forcement have been added to the
duties of police forces that in some
cases are little If any larger than
before the advent of the motor car.
and the traffic has outgrown the or
committee. Uniform, impartial en-
ments by adequate and properly or
ganized police is a primary necessity
in reducing street and highway acci-
dents. The mere addition of num-
bers OF traffic officers unframed in
the special problems will not insure
the desired results"
THE most abundant provision OF
streets and highways, the most care
full working out of traffic regulations
and the most vigorous enforcement
of traffic laws, to be 100 per cent eff
fective in the reduction of accidents,
must be supplemented by a sense OF
personal responsibility instilled in
every motorist and every pedes-
TRAN"
Other important recommendations
include:
That speed regulations should be
directed primarily at reckless driv-
ing and should be uniform through
out the country. That communities
should be empowered to fix speed
limit zones. but should be required to
mark the boundaries of such zones
plainly: and should be prohibited
from establishing q speed limit low
er than 10 miles per hour. Speed In
an excess of 80 miles per hour in
rural areas should be considered
prima facie, reckless, and the burden
of proof of it's reasonableness should
rest upon the operator.
That overtaking moving vehicles
on sharp curves, approaching hill
crests. at intersections or at railroad
crossings should be prohibited.
That parking should not be per-
mitted where It will endanger or SER
iously impede moving traffic or pre-
vent reasonable access to the side
walk for loading or unloading of
vehicles. This will prohibit the
parking or stopping of cars on any
lNart OF the Travelled portion of a
rural highway.
That a single cautionary signal
made by extending the arm well out
side the vehicle is recommended as
preferable to a more complex code.
That vehicles should not be per-
mitted to exceed n speed of Is miles
per hour when approaching within
100 feet of a railroad crossing.
That In cities pedestrians should
be kept within the boundaries of
designated safety zones and crossing
places. That motorists should be re-
CURED to accord pedestrians safe and
dignified use OF such safety zones
and crossing places.
That reckless driving and other
fragrant disregard of the rights OF
others by any user OF the streets or
highways should be vigorously and
increasingly prosecuted. Legislation
should provide adequate penalties.
IcNOCdllOu VI
licenses for cumulative evidence of
carelessness or irresponsibility. for
operating a motor vehicle while I'M
der the influence of Intoxicating Ii
quors or drugs and severe
penalties for driving after revoca-
ton. There should be a sufficient
number of organized traffic officers
to detent and prosecute such infrac-
tions.
All persons operating a motor We
hicle should be properly licensed.
Such licenses should be issued by a
state department or division having
entire administration Of the motor
vehicle law as its exclusive duty;
with full authority to refuse IL
cense. to suspend or revoke a license
already issued for any reason deem
Ell sufficient. Before granting such
license the applicants ability to OPP
crate a motor vehicle safely should
be determined by ascertaining his
physical and mental fitness, knowl-
edge of the law. and by requiring an
actual demonstration. Persons I'M
der Is years of age or who cannot
read English should not be permit
ted TO operate a motor vehicle.
Lack of uniformity, the Commit
tee points out, leads almost every
motorist to violate some traffic law
or regulation occasionally. An ''un-
wholesome contempt for the law and
inclination to substitute individual
Judgment for the prescribed rules
the Committee says. has resulted
from the fact that many laws are un-
reasonable and practically unenforc-
cable.
Deviations from uniform rules
SHOULD be conspicuously posted
where they are In effect" It Is declar-
ed. While organizations ami confer
ences have done much toward STAN
dardization. minor differences have
not been harmonized and the actual
adoption by states and cities has not
progressed to the desired extent.
This object may be expedited by the
conference, the committee declares.
Discussing the advantage Of main
taining a prevailing average of speed
for all vehicles on heavily travelled
roads. the Committee declares that
the excessively slow vehicle may be
as serious a menace to traffic as the
speed maniac. However. it deems
education preferable to legislation in
this respect.
There Is need OF consideration Of
the motorist, toward the pedestrian.
the Committee points out. Certain
ly." it says, "if motorists will display
proper consideration for pedestrians
crossing at intersections with the
traffic. thus demonstrating his great
er safety at these points. this will go
far toward encouraging him to pro-
mote his own and the general safe
ty." But the Committee points to
the fact that 'the average pedestrian
seems to have little regard for traf-
f1c regulations even those intended
to promote his own safety and vio-
lates the simplest requirements.