The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-02-26
Urged to Join Nationwide
Movement to Eliminate
Accidents.
COUNCIL IS SPONSOR
KenOsha Safety Council Takes
Lead in Local Campaign
for Safer Traffic.


council, an auxiliary body of the Ke-
nosha Civic council, is taking the lead
in an educational campaign in Keno
sha 'to show by education rather than
through experience" how common
sense and care can prevent 80 per
cent of the accidents which occur in
the streets of Kenosha.
The local organization is urging rec
ignition of definite national policy
of traffic regulations and practice that
has been presented in the findings OF
the National Conference on Street and
Highway Safety at Washington re-
Gently, The policy now offered is the
first concrete plan drawn up since au-
tomobile traffic began to present one
of the country's major problems.
From Nations Best Minds.
This traffic control program, as pre-
sented in booklet form just off the
press, is not designed as national
policy in the sense of being devised
by or carrying authority of the FEEDER
al government. 1t is rather program
which is the concensus of the opinion
and best thought of over 500 represen-
tatives of such groups as American
Industry and American labor, the rail
roads, the street railways, the insur-
ance companies, the organized motor
lists, safety organizations, police ON
Gals, federal and state highway offl-
Gals and motor vehicle administrators
together with engineers, educators
traffic experts and lawyers.
The danger of attempting too much
detail in legislation affecting traffic
is clearly recognized and is the out
standing point brought out by the
conference. The fluid state of trans
portation and the rapid changes In the
TYNE and needs of traffic were brought
70 the forefront of its deliberations as
demanding that "the great mass OF de-
tailed regulations should be left to be
prescribed by the responsible ofhclals
whose orders should, within the limits
fixed by statute, have the erect Oh
law" In the recommendations adopt
ed, the experiences of past attempts
70 regulate transportation led to the
statement "that there should be
minimum of restrictive laws and regu-
lations" and that "the system OF regu-
lation should go hand in hand with a
constructive program for meeting the
demands of street and highway trat-
fc."
Special Committees Report.
The report is divided into three sec
tions regrouping the findings and rec
concentrations of the eight special com
mittees organized by Secretary OIL
Commerce Hoover early last year to
make a survey of the situation, togeth-
er with the conclusions reached ana
the amendments, substitutlons ana ao-
ditions made by the Conference itself.
The first of these groups contains all
of the proposals which the conference
in it's judgment agreed should be IN
cornorated in motor vehicle legislation.
The second contains those proposal
which the delegates believed should be
left very largely to the discretion OF
motor vehicle administrators whom the
law should clothe with adequate power
for this purpose. The third, entitled
"Suggestions for Cooperative Work"
contains proposals which cannot be
made mandatory either by law or by
regulation but which should be left to
official and unofficial organizations,
industry and the general public, IN
GLIDING both motorists and pedestrians.
The report also outlines plans for the
future activities of the groups which
made up the Conference and for a
continuation of the work for the pur-
pose of making the findings of the
Conference permanently effective.
1t is interesting to note that in Sec
ton 1 under heading Legislative Prin-
ciplesse' the Conference laid down GER
tain fundamental principles governing
motor vehicle legislation. Perhaps the
most important is that Regulatory
legislation should be for adoption by
states and not by cities" The Con-
ference took the position that the state
enforcement division should have suffi-
GENTLY broad powers to formulate. the
regulatory provisions necessary to the
detailed control of traffic, leaving,
however, to municipal authorities the
formulation and enforcement Of ordi-
nances covering local conditions. The
Federal governments only relation to
the safety program, says the report,
Should be one of encouragement, of
assembly anu ul6IIAUubiou VI lHlOIAHa-
ton, and the development and use of
best practices. The delegates felt
that uniformity, which is so necessary
to any program of accident prevention,
could best be secured by the voluntary
action of the various states.
Take III All.
The important items which were
considered as proper subjects for state
legislation are traffic planning, grade
crossings, traffic courts, licensing of
drivers, penalties, speed, certifeation
of titles, reporting and investigation
Of accidents, safety education in the
schools, Fairgrounds and traffic facili-
ties.
Among the most interesting meas
ures recommended by the Conference
was that IN connection with the license
ing Of drivers. This proposal calls
for an examination before the grant
ing of license, in the case of persons
not already qualified, including not
only a demonstration of ability to
drive, but entertainment of the ply
steal and mental fitness of the appli-
cant. It also provides for the sus
pension or revocation Of license al
ready issued for any reason deemed
sufficient.
Under the head Penalties" the Con-
ference demanded that reckless driv-,
ing be vigorously and INCREASINGLY
prosecuted and called for legislation
providing adequate penalties, includ-