Smyrna times., 1926-09-29
MAY TIGHTEN REGULATIONS
FOR TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAYS
RULES ARE To TAX, TT IS CON-
TENDED BY HIGHWAY OFFICIAL
Under Present Conditions Anyone Can
Get Drivers License Even Those
Who Cannot Read and Write

Get Drivers License Even Those
Who Cannot Read and Write
The alleged attempt of blind man
to drive an automobile on country
road, recently, which was later denied
has caused much discussion the past
few weeks among safety officials and
those interested in reducing menaces
on the State highways. A search of
the law governing the issuance of Ii
censes to motor drivers does not re
veal any section that would restrict a
blind man from obtaining license to
drive car in Delaware.
The Secretary of State who, be-
cause of his Office, has authority over
the titling department, may ask any,
one who applies for license to give
a demonstration of their competency
to drive a motor. But the section is
not mandatory or obligatory at all. 1t
is known fact that in Delaware to-
day there are drivers of motor cars
who have one arm and others who
have but one leg. It is said there are
several who have artificial legs and
feet who are quite clever in the mani
pulation of car.
Another part of the Delaware law,
regarding drivers, which many believe
would help to reduce highway hazards
and which is lacking, but which other
states require, is that everyone who
obtains license to drive car should
have to be able to read.
A demonstration of this is given
every weekend at the Basin Road on
the State Highway, which is the road
leading into New Castle and where
traffic is now directed by means of a
light hanging in the center of the
road. Last Sunday many cars driven
by persons who could not read, mess
ed up traffic at this cross-road because
they didn't understand the words
printed on the various colored lights
of the signal.
1t is doubtful whether an amend
ment or addition to the State motor
laws calling for all persons who drive
to be able to read, could be enacted.
In speaking of this suggestion State
official, living in lower Delaware, said:
Lower Delaware legislators would
never vote for an amendment to the
traffic laws banning the illiterate. I'm
fortunately there are many who can
not read and write. / recall several
years ago one stretch of road in one
Of the lower counties where it was
necessary to obtain the signature of.
property holders along the right-of-
way of the dupont Boulevard to
legal paper required for the road. Out
Of 81 owners of farms and lands along
this particular stretch, IL of them
could not read or write and were COM
PEELED to make their mark.
Remember" said the official, "these
were not itinerant laborers or transi-.
ent workmen in Delaware, they were
pure-bred, genuine Delawareans and
owners of real estate"
During the past week the menace
concealed in the recklessness of truck
drivers was demonstrated afresh.
There were six accidents on one day
and in each case there was a truck.
Most of them were collisions between
truck and car.
"A few years ago." said w. w.
Mack, secretary of the State Highway
Commission of Delaware, "when Mas
sachusetts, New Jersey and Connec-
ticut became more strict with their
traffic regulations and more rigid in
fixing the qualifications for motor
drivers, marked decrease in the
number of accidents occurred. These
states are as severe and many believe
more so than any other states in the
Union and according to the highway
officials Of these commonwealth, the
restrictions are wise ones as they
have helped to eliminate motor acci-
dents"