Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-11
MORAL IDEA HELD
MOTOR ILLS CURE
Baughman, Maryland Official,
Says Severer Penalties
Only Other Means.

SHu1 SSbSt tbsSeNtNSa
Moral suasion or more and more
and severer and severer penalties
which way will motorists actions
make the pendulum swing?
Propounded by K. Austin Baugh-
man, Maryland motor vehicle COM
missioner, this question is one receiv-
ing widespread attention and the
Maryland official himself, with years
of experience behind him. admits that
he is not yet confident that an answer
is now available.
He points out that:
THE present idea of automobile
regulation. notwithstand the opin-
ion OF many laymen TO the contrary,
is based largely upon dependence
upon a right mental attitude of the
drivers"
Education Is Good.
THE policy of the. automobile aid.
nlinistrative department has been not
merely to administer the motor laws
Justly and to perform the daily
routine of collecting revenues for
highway maintenance, but to educate
the public and, as far as is possible,
to humanize the relations of this
State agency with the people who
created IT. declares Commissioner
Baughman.
This is best accomplished at all
times not alone by making the
agencies. of the department readily
accessible to the people and by giving
publicity to the various phases OF mo-
toring and their proper treatment,
but also by endeavoring especially to
make an appeal for effective co-opera-
ton so that the seamy side-dealing
with convictions for violation of the
law, the imposition of penalties, the
investigation of irregularities and dis.
ciplinary work of all kinds-will be
resorted to as infrequently as pos
sible
AT the same time there remains
uppermost the question of how long
not only the administrative officials,
ifAto whose hands this whole matter
is placed, but also how long the people
of Maryland, in common with those
of other States, can afford to go on
killing and manning and destroying
before we become satisfied that the
educational theory of regulation Is
either sound, or-Worthless.
Conditions No Better.
I'm the FIVE and one half months OF
the present year 102 persons had been
killed in automobile accidents up to
the middle of the present week. When
1t is figured that this is one person
more than were killed in nine and
one-half months of last year. the fact
that conditions are not improving be,
comes plain.
'.The vast majority of these killings
was due to absence of the right per
sonal attitude.
shall we keep on exhorting and
begging for personal attitude improve
nent in the use of automobiles until
the Legislature of 1927 convenes. in
the hope that by that time betterment
of conditions will be so marked that
further drastic enactments. will be I'M
called for?
"Or shall we try to get improve
ment sooner by tightening up, and,
through absolutely drastic repressfve
application of the present statutes.
force motor vehicle operators who are
involved In even minor accidents of
the highways by suspending or re.
voking their licenses?
Golden Rule Necessary.
'-Only the army of several hundred
the answer, and / do not hesitate to
say that it would be a marvellous re
lief to all enforcement ard safety
fostering agencies If, as one man
they-the motorists--would demon
strate that the present laws are ade
Quate, through obeying them in both
letter and spirit" says Commissioner
Baughman.
In this connection he added that
90 far as the regulation in the small
er town sections is concerned, the
limited number of State officers
makes II absolutely necessary thai
thoughtful and careful motorists helT
out by spreading the Gospel of the
Golden Rule of the Highways"
In conclusion, Col. Baughman de
clared:
speeding and recklessness mus
stop. In addition, observation of thu
so-called minor regulations dealing
with the right of way proper oh
servance of the laws requirement.
for properly adjusted non-glarint
headlights, and the prohibition o
driving with only one headlight
which is extremely dangerous as wei
as being a source of great annoyance
to other drivers-must be and /.
going to be enforced stringently.
The highways of Maryland, con
gested as they are, still can be uset
with safety If only the rule Of reason
is applied. OF course, more vehicles
are using the roads this year thar
ever before. In view of this. 1t ma.
be that the accident increase is n,
greater than might be expected. blu
it is greater,t when it ought to b
less"