Evening star., 1925-04-28
Weed Out the Unfit
Drivers of Motor Cars
To the Editor of The Star:

10 the Editor OF The Star:
Who doubts that the golden rule
suggested by Manager Eldridge should
be the keynote for motor car
traffic? And who doubts that Il
would be good thing 10 have the
millennium here at once? 1t is pleas
ant TO know that one has a theory
and Mr.. Eldridge's suggestion is 10
be highly commended; but imagine. if
you can, two thirds of the motor
car drivers of Washington and
vicinity paying any attention to that
golden rule, except for policemans
club.
And yet the most of these drivers
arrested for speeding are not 50
vicious as they are declared TO he
reckless. drunken. etc. In truth, a sort
of injustice is done them. In many
cases when the driver is said 10 be
drunk or reckless, il is merely a lack
OF bralns-not much more brain than
the hen has that runs across the road
in front of his car in the suburbs. He
has no sense of proportion; IL Is
probable he never drove a horse
drawn vehicle in his life, unless i,
was trash cart attached TO an old
broken down nag.
And now, driving manv-horsp-
powered locomotive through crowded
streets, he has no more sense Of re-
sponsibility than when he drove his
ash cart. In approaching a street
intersection at is miles an hour
when no signal officer is there for
the moment, he never dreams Of any
danger. either to himself or any one
else, and fails TO Slacken speed.
1t never occurs to him that a little
girl or child of guileless age, chasing
ball, may run out in front of his
car to be killed or mangled for life:
or that feeble, purblind old man
may be Just starting to cross the
street. Sometimes another car, com
ing down the intersecting street AZ
equal speed, meets him with CRAFTY
ing results. Both cars are smashed
up, and the fool drivers carted off 10
the hospital
The enforcement of Manager Ed
ridges regulations. as we'll as heavier.
fines and Jail sentences, have done
something to improve the situation
lately; but there is Just one way, and
only one, to do away with the killings.
maimings and collision -smash-ups by
incompetent drivers. That way in
wolves sacrifice, to be sure, by the
city treasury, in the first stages at
least; but 1t is a choice between money
and the safety of the people Safety
first" has been the slogan these many
moons. but, as everybody knows, there
mas oeen little or no cessation Of "un-
avoidable accidents"
The plan to avoid these accidents IS,
in brief, to round up every holder of
motor car license and at once re-
woke all those of evil record, not 70
be renewed for one year For the re
mainder and all future applicants
there shall be a rigid mental exami.
nation by a board of examiners, among
them one or more alienists, on whose
decisions licenses shall be retained or
granted.
This will, of course. result in many
vacancies, If properly carried out.
with no small reduction in the volume
of cars, rolling and parked in the
streets. Also, there will be for a time
a considerable reduction of revenue to
the city treasury; but If there shall be
the saving of life and limb among the
people with the abolition of the exist
ing deadly situation, tho taxpayers
will cheerfully submit to further bur
dens, If found necessary. 1t is q
iquestion Of money or your life.''
Il. " S JORDAN