The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-07-07
The CHASTITY Death Toll Of
Washington Automobiles
By BILL PRICE.

death Washington automobiles continues to
be CHASTITY and shocking The community had hoped
for distinct Improvement after the passage by Congress Of
traffic laws the last session Congress certainly tried
to satisfy public opinion here in that particular matter
gave many additional policemen two police court
Judges provided director of traffic and appropriated the
money necessary the directors office.
There longer be contention that lacking in
the machinery to better traffic conditions in this city In
stead of shortage of equipment there may be
surplus At rate Washngtonians deeply disappointed
that life does any safer in the
District than beforewhen policemen the
police court lacked judges to handle offenders and the laws
weak and ineffective.
Let hope that the large number serious
accidents in the last two months abnormal and that
exceptionally large number of them could be placed the
category of unpreventabs prompt
bettermsnt of the shocking record of recent weeks.
If there weakness blame will know where place
it, after ALL there lack Of cooperation among various
agencies charge of enforcement Of traffic and parking laws
and regulations shall know the truth in time. the very
best being by everybody-then we face gloomy
look one that is sure to again arouse Congress and which
should arouse the Commissioners to close inquiry
The Director of Traffic is bending every energy would
Kidding the District careless and dangerous
through denial of operators permits those with bad
records or with shady histories bordering on the criminal
not oversteppng it. There may be Improvement in cond
tons when the permit field is cleared that holders of
drivers licenses will be and of responsibility,
houghfuness and intelligent understanding of their duties
There nt going to be the safety want long permits
easy soda fountain drinks get and long they
remain in the hands reckless nconsderate drivers speed
manacs and criminals Director Edridge is heading in
right direction in tightening the issue of per-
sres In limiting permits persons worth having them
An unfortunate tendency among traffic administrators and
policemen everywhere is dwell things
and to rtter valuable time small matters The
purposes Of traffic laws to make m limb and property
safe possible and keep traffic open ra
fic may move with reasonable rapidity and safety
When traffic executives and policemen depart
idea of traffic enforcement good time
on small things the result is that auto killings and maimings
increase and the reckless driver gets dangerous
stunts The traffic squad consists of given of
and we to have plenty them Our police force
large enough to fully take of its duties When
traffic policemen assigned parking volators
little offenders the number assigned the
traffic situation diminished There strong feeling among
Washington citizens that they being heced too much
little matters that have bearing the killing of human
beings and the wrecng of properties may be that
version of traffic policemen to putting down speeding
and eckssness would have good effect The foremost duty
of traffic authorities is to cua and severely punish those
drivers who commit the oenss that do endanger life
be done by concentrating the activities of the traffic force
in that direction and keeping them concentrated until
speeders DRINKS and reckless drivers know that the might
the law their trail Cutting down speed limit
have bit of effect these classes of drivers Putting them
behind bars and applying every legal them will
a most salutary effect.