Evening star., 1925-07-26
A. A. A. ASKS RAISE
IN SPEED LIMITS
Finds Present Restrictions
Cause Accidents and
Congestion.

Faster driving on highways where
the roads are smooth, wide and
straight is being advocated by the
American Automobile Association as a
means of relieving congestion and as
an aid to greater safety. 4 plan SINH
lar 10 that used in Maryland, where
tho motorist is advised by conspicu-
Gus signs when he may travel at
higher speed and when he is enter
ing zone calling for reduced speed,
is recommended To all States and
municipalities.
Explainins the position taken by
the A. a. A with respect TO legallz-
ing increased speed on the highways.
Richard Haldeman. chairman of the
A. a 4. good roads board. declared
that increased speed is as logical and
as unavoidable as increased traft1c.
He is of the opinion that the real dan
ger lies in the delay in the proper
regulation of such speed.
Asks Speed Signs.
Motorists must be allowed to drive
faster over the highways, but the
motor vehicle officials and public
authorities must designate the higher
speed zones" Mr.. Haldeman said.
Accordingly. the A. 4. a. proposes
to ask the various highway depart
nents TO notify travellers where they
may speed up or where they must
slow down.
The present laws with respect TO
speed of motor vehicles are as out OF
date as the hand crank. They are
directly responsible for many of the
highway accidents and much of the
highway confusion
THE motor traveller in strange ter
ritorv has to rely upon snap 1udg-
mcnt regarding a safe rate of speed,
whereas ii would be a simple matter
for the State TO designate points or
zones where higher speeds are per-
mltted Here the traveller could make
time. thus removing the temptation
10 step on the gas when he is held
back in traffic.
''N is already being done TO Ger
tain extent in Maryland. but expert
ence shows that 80 miles an hour IS
not a generous enough allowance
where roads are inherently safer
There is no use trying to deny the
fact that millions OF cars frequently
travel at speeds Of 40 or over. Taklng
cosnizance of this, Florida has just
increased the speed limit on the State
highway to as miles an hour The
country had better put itself TO the
task of seeing 10 ii that motorists
drive fast where fast driving is safe.
IF fast driving were inherently
DANGEROUS the motor car manufac-
turers of America would promptly
limit the speeds of cars mechanically.
The trouble is that there Is nothing
to hinder drivers from driving fast
where speed is hazardous and the
suited speed laws prevent them from
taking advantage of logical oppor-
runities to get over the ground
quickly.
A A.. A. Study Comprehensive.
The A. A A. has gone into this
matter very carefully. and | do not
see where anything is TO be gained by
continuing to play the ostrich in mat
ters of speed and safety. One official
recently remarked that If each State
provided a 10-mile straight concrete
stretch with the invitation to motor
lists to go just as fast as they please
ity1robably would be the least trouble
some road in the State.
sit is problem for city authorities
as well as State, for there are many
streets. bridges and boulevards where
cars could move faster with safety
thereby assuring the city closer ad
herence to regulations where caution
and slow driving are imperative
Under existing regulations the same
rule applies to all streets. with per-
hapS stage of lenlency as the SUD-
Grbs are reached. The motoring pub
lie is driving too fast over the danger
Gus streets and being held back for
fear of a technical violation on streets
where there is no reason to run
slowly.
The laws In some States with
respect to speed are based upon the
density of dwellings,. the motorist be
ing permitted to drive faster as houses
are built farther apart. No considera
tion is made for the number of in
tersections the width of the thor
oughfare, the volume of traffic or the
condition of the roadway Naturally
the regulations are Variously inter
preted. according to the intelligence
and inclinations of the drivers. Th'
traveller. more than any one else, ha:
To be guided entirely by his own judg
ment. which often may be somewhat
defective He may drive too fas
where conditions appear to be ia
vorable. but where. in reality. they
may be hazardous. He may lag be
hind where it may be permissible
to drive faster because he is afraiC
of being arrested by motor cycle
officer.
'At the present time there is M
line drawn between speeds appropri
ate for traffic, weather. car and roaC
conditions, and the result is that w
have constantly present Throughout
the entire country the basis of mos
collisions and accidents-misjudg
and confusion. Faster traffic can b,
accomplished with greater safety i
the motoring public is properly guided
in its effort 10 handle the speed ability
of the modern automobile"