Evening star., 1925-09-15

to obey them. Commenting on the
marking of the boulevards, he con-
tinued:
Stop signs are being painted on the
pavement at all intersecting highways
as fast our limited force and funds
Will permit. These signs will be sup
plemented as soon as possible by
markers erected on posts adjacent to
all intersections on boulevard stop
streets"
Downtown garages for the storage
or cars are an urgent need and would
relieve the parking problem. Mr. Ell
bridge said, but he added 1t IS doubt
ful whether the all-day parker would
patronize such garages as long as he
Is able to obtain free and unlimited
parking space within easy walking dis
tance of his place of employment.
Mr.. Eldridge explained with regard
to revoking permits that the law gives
him authority to revoke a permit after
proper hearing for the violation Of any
traffic regulation, but provides no
such authority for violations of the
act itself. Permits cannot be revoked
for violations of sections Of the traffic
act until the cases have been tried and
convictions obtained. Mr.. Eldridge
believes he should be able to suspend
permits pending trial for serious Of
fenseS.
The director said another weakness
OF the act as it stands Is it's failure to
direct the judges of Police Court to
note major violations on the back of
the operating permits.
Section 8 of the traffic act should be
amended, the director states, to de-
fine reckless driving more clearly.
Parts Of this section are confusing, he
told the city heads.
The Department of Justice and
number of national organizations IA
vor Il uniform title law for automo
biles throughout the country, Mr.. Ell
bridge declared. The main feature of
the law is that it places the burden
of proof regarding ownership upon
the possesSor of the vehicle. A person
could not obtain license tags without
showing clear title TO the car. Upon
sale of the car the seller would assign
the old title to the buyer. who in turn
would file it with the official in charge
of the law and have a new certificate
of title issued to him.
Adoption of such a law in more
than 90 States has brought a marked
reduction in the theft of automobiles.
Mr.. Eldridge said.
Discussing the accident situation in
Washington, Mr.. Eldridge said:
1T would be unreasonable to expect
an appreciable decrease in traffic ac-
cidents within the short period from
May (when the new law became eff
fecttve) TO June (when the fiscal year
ended). but the results even during
this period are encouraging. especial
ly since there has been an increase of
27 per cent in motor car registrations
during the past year. Comparisons
of traffic accidents for the period
from May 8, 1925, when the new regu-
lations became effective. to June 80,
with the same period of the previous
year are as follows:
"1925-Fatal accidents, II; serious
injuries, 9. and minor injuries, $40.
"l924-Fatal accidents. 10; serious
injuries, 4, and minor injuries, 1904.
1T should be noted that in spite
Of the fact that there has been an
increase of 27 per cent in the num-
ber of motor vehicles in use, there
has been no appreciate increase in
the total number of accidents and
definite decrease in fatalities during
this period"
Mr.. Eldridge concludes his report
with an expression Of appreciation for
the cooperation he has obtained from
the Police Department. the Traffic
Court judges, local organizations, the
press and from laW-abiding motorists
and pedestrians.
"If this support" he said, "is sup
plemented by adequate appropriations
to carry on the work as above stated,
we can look forward to the day when
the Nations Capital will set an ex-
ample in the safe and easy flow of
traffic which other cities will emulate"