Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-02
Needless Motorists.

ANY DOUBT that w aSnlnSlOn pos
sesses an incOnceivably large number
Of stupid, careless and Indifferent mo-
tor car drivers is removed by obser-
walton of the run of a fire engine in
this city The cardinal rule for the
protection Of both fire engines and
ambulances is that all motorists, on
hearing the siren or bell. should in
stantly pull over to the right-hand
curb and stop. Do Washington mo-
florists obey this universal rule? They
most emphatically do not. They
meander along without q care in the
world, most of the time in the middle
of the street, without giving any more
heed to the siren Of fire engine than
they do to the gentle and courteous
toot of a passenger car
Three fire engine runs have been
observed within the last few days. On
each occasion at least 80 per cent of
tho motorists directly involved failed
to comply either with the written law
of safety or the unwritten law Of ordi-
nary decency. On one occasion, when a
fire engine was compelled to make a
left-hand turn from Twelfth street into
Pennsylvania avenue three motorists
maneuvered themselves into such a
position that it looked as if a serious
accident was likely. The engine driver,
however, with characteristic skill avoid
ed the mess and made the turn sue
ceSsfully. These motorists would have
been solely 10 blame for a crash. They
had plenty of time to get themselves
out Of the way, but seemingly paid
no attention to the oncoming appa-
ratus.
1t is apparent that drastic measures
will have to be taken by the Police
Department to convince motorists that
if they cannot obey the law of self
preservation they must obey the traf-
&c regulations for the benefit of the
fremen on the fast travelling engines.
A fire engine is an unwieldy vehicle at
best. 1t is a marvel that drivers are
able ia handle it with the facility they
with the ease of a small car, and
therefore every consideration should
give it an unquestioned and unchal.
lenged right of way
Even if it is necessary to detail po-
licemen in automobiles to follow the
engines and pick up every motorist
who does not comply with the regu-
iations, a campaign should be started
at once. 1t is only by some such
method that motorists can be con-
WINGED that right of way for fire ap-
paratus is a fundamental rule in every
city. in the country. When these
drivers are taken up-and the police
car will have no trouble in apprehend-
ing a large number of them-they
should be rushed Immediately to court
and given the stiffest penalties under
the law. If they plead that they did
not hear the siren they acknowledge
that they are too deaf to drive on the
streets of Washington; If they plead
ignorance of the rule, they are too
stupid to drive, and II they plead that
they thought the engine had plenty OF
room to get by, they place themselves
in the careless and Indifferent class
which should likewise be eliminated
from the driving fraternity of the Ma
tional Capital.
There are no extenuating circum.
stances for failure to comply with this
regulation. If the police and courts
take drastic action, the streets will
not only be safer for the driving and
walking public. but will be safer for
the firemen who daily risk their lives
to protect the property of the COM
munftV