The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-04-29

OF
MODEL TRAFFIC
CODE IS URGED
Chairman Of State Rail Board
Addresses Safety Con-
ference Delegates

Research, educational activity and
cooperative effort are necessary to
reduce the hazards of death or injury
in automobile accidents, Frank Mil
hOllan, chairman Of the state rail-
road board, told delegates to the first
state safety conference here today.
Reporting on the activities of the
two national conferences on street
and highway safety, Milhollan urged
the adoption Of the model code drawn
up by that body in an effort to meet
the problem presented by the rapidly
increasing number Of automobiles.
The committee which drew the code
was headed by the vice president of
the American Bar Association and
numbered among its membership
leaders in the American Automobile
Association, National Safety Council,
chief magistrates, engineering or
CARNATIONS, commissioners Of police,
traffic directors, highway commits
sioncrs and others interested in the
subject Of street and highway safety.
Commenting on the need of a
standard code Milhollan said that
various states and cities have rules
.at variance with each other which
confuse the mOtorist or pedestrian.
Official figures for 1923. he said.
showed 22,6OO fatalities in autOmo-
bile accidents and 67S,0O0 serious
personal injury cases with an annual
economic loss Of not less than $780,
100000.
Many Problems To Solve
Because Of the various needs and
conflicting circumstances affecting
the views of representatives from var
ious sections Of the country, mem
bcrs Of the committee found it diff
ficult to devise uniform code, Mil
hollan said. The question of tail
lights alone brought on II long de-
bate and Il close vote. Some experts
eontcndcd that tail lights should be
yellow on the ground that red in
dicatcs danger and full stop. 9th
ers pointed out that there are 20,-
O6O. 900 automobiles equipped with
red tail lights in use and that end
less confusion would result if yellow
lights were placed on ears from snow
on. The matter was referred to the
committee for further study.
Another argument developed over
the minimum age of drivers. The
conference finally decided to permit
children Of lG years to drive private
ears provided they obtained the writ
ten consent Of their parents. The
age limit for chauffeurs was fixed
at l8 years and for operators OF
busses carrying school children at
II years.
1t is not the hope Of the leaders of
the national movement that each
state will Immediately adopt the
standard code, Milhollan said. it is
their idea that the code will be
adopted as the people of the var
ious states become educated to the
need for it and acquire greater ap-
probation Of the appalling losses
caused by preventable accidents.
Work M q Lifetime
ut is the work Of perhaps a life
time" said Milhollan. "All the
forces of education should be utilized
in an endeavor to prevent the loss
of life and property. If mental de-
fectives and liquor drinkers are
prevented from driving automobiles
fewer accidents will occur. It is
certain that If man who has been
guilty Of a misdemeanor or OF an
assault with an automobile is i'm
prisoned or even denied the use Of
his car, fewer accidents will occur"
Milhollan urged that the safety
conference 60 on record as favoring
the code with such amendments as
are necessary to make it applicable in
North Dakota, and that plans looking
to its enactment will be formulated"
The salient features Of the code as
presented to the conference by Mil
hollan follow:
Some Features
l.. A Uniform Motor Vehicle Regis
tration and Certificate of Title Act.
2. A Uniform Motor Vehicle Oper-
ator's and Chauffeur's License Act.
3. A Uniform Act Regulating the
Operation Of Vehicles on Highways:
The vehicle operation act deals
with such matters as: Driving while
intoxicated; reckless driving; speed
restrictions; driving at grade cross
ings; rules of the road; stopping and
reporting in event Of accident; size,
weight, construction and equipment
of vehicles; highway traffic signs;
arrests. reports, disposition of fines
and forfeitures; and penalties. The
chief sections Of the registration and
certificate of title act provide for a
State Motor Vehicle department or
division in each state; the regiStra-
tion of motor, vehicles and certifica-
ton of title; the conditions of re-
fusal or cancellation Of registrations
and certificates; registration fees;
action in case Of unlawful taking,
transfer of. or injury to vehicles;
and penalties.
In the licensing act, the chief
provisions deal with age limits,
license restrictions and examination
Of drivers, duration Of licenses; rec
iprocity between states, suspension
and revocation of licenses, liability
for public employees, and violations
and penalties.
The act would authorize courts to
recommend suspensions Of licenses,
hut would vest the power to suspend