The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-08-06
BAUCHNAN TALKS
ON EXAMINATIONS
Motor Vehicle Commissioner Says
Learning To Drive Properly 10
vitality Important Matter
NEW DRIVERS BY HUNDREDS

Impressed by the fact that between
four hundred and fifty and five hun
dred persons are applying every day
for instruction licenses and that the
great majority of these half thousand
daily beginners" will, with month
or two, be out on the highways as
fully licensed operators of motor cars,
Motor Vehicle Commissioner e. Aus
tin Baughman, points out that in this
branch of automobile regulation is
found probably the most important OF
all the duties of an automobile law
administrator.
Over a sustained period Of check
ing, it appears that more persons are
learning to drive automobiles in Mary
land at this time than at any time IN
the history of Colonel Baughman's de-
partment.
'There is no phase Of automotive
regulation which is so important, to
my mind, as that of seeing that per-
sons licensed by the State to operate
motor cars know the law, realize its
Importance and are thoroughly versed
in the requirements of safe and proper
operation of motor vehicle" says
Commissioner Baughman.
while Maryland is one of the
pioneers in the examination of all ap-
plicants for the privilege Of driving
,,,+oroob;Joa ard Sc Uonoro1Iv oOncid-
cred to have model law in this re-
spect, even here we encounter diff
culties in administering the law SO
as to insure that no injustice is done
the applicant through asking too much
Of beginner, while at the same time
seeing that every precaution is taken
to see to it that none but competent
and safe drivers are licensed. AS a
general proposition, it may be said
that Instructors of applicants should
take more care in having their pupils
letter-perfect in the provisions of the
law and the safe rules of the road,
and mechanically apt in the operation
of car.
orators being turned out each month,
and with the increasing congestion Of
the highways, the Importance of the
perfection of the human element is
daily becoming greater. The driver
of today-whether an experienced op-
orator of many years experience or
mere beginner = encounters in
single days driving more hazards and
situations requiring quick and proper
thinking and action than was met by
the driver Of ten years ago in months
of experience. Thus is the problem
of the examining authority increased
and made more vitality important
Under these circumstances" says
the Commissioner, 81 feel that too
much Importance cannot be placed
upon the efficient application of the
requirement that the new drivers
shall actually demonstrate their
knowledge of the law and ability as
drivers to the satisfaction of those
who must pass upon their fitness.
These examiners and particularly the
ones having the supervision of the
driving demonstration, are, so far as
we can make them so through selec-
ton and training, we'll fitted to judge
drivers qualifications. However,
both in the driving tests and in the
mental examination on the law, more
than merely mechanical operation
of gear-shifts and steering wheel, and
parrot-like repeating of the legal
phrases of the law is required, to
make good driver. Indeed some ap-
plicants who are none too proficient
in these matters have a driving sense
which eventually makes them the bet
ter and more safe operators. We
must, so far as it is possible, size up
the applicants driving qualifications
and aptness in addition to the mechan-
ical driving ability and letter-perfect
knowledge of the law. In this
process we take into consideration
the drivers poise, quickness of reac-
ton to emergencies, road manners"
In respect to the rights of others.
n