Evening star., 1926-04-12

The public is convinced that COM
mon sense is the one chief require
ment for the improvement of traffic
conditions in the United States. with
resulting greater safety on the high
ways. 1t is believed. as indicated IN
press comments, that n persistent
campaign to impress upon both mo-
torists and pedestrians the need of
more intelligent observance of such
rules as may be established IS the
great need of the present time.
1.-THE auto has made the Nation
one great family says the Columbus
Ohio State Journal, and travel be-
tween the States, from coast to coast,
are improved and more autos put in
use. That makes uniform regula-
tfons and laws most desirable. because,
under that condition, drivers would be
fully informed of their obligations, no
matter in what part of the country
they might be travelling" Because of
the condition, the Fort Worth Record
Telegram advocates few and simple
laws. with the comment: speed
regulations. traffic rules and observ-
ance of lights are all that should be
required. If they are the same in
every county and State. the auto
ing them. A half dozen can easily
cover the subject and greatly simplify
enforcement"
y :; y !;
Organized work for highway
safety" according TO the Springfield
Union, ''finds it's strong vindication
and justification in the lessened death
and accident rates on the highways i'll
communities where such work has
been carried on by energetic, well di-
rected committees. The great need
of a stronger and more comprehensive
campaign in this regard is emphasized
by figures telling of 24.000 lives sacri-
feed and 100000 persons injured III
highway accidents in this country
last year. Reduced to a cold financial
summary, these figures, taken in con-
nection with property damage incurred
in such accidents. are estimated to
mean a loss of $500, 900, 900, and this
takes no account of the loss involved
in blockades and delays caused by
street congestion. or needless wear
on cars due to improper care of the
highways" The Peoria Transcript.
however. contends that speed regu-
lations are valuable only when intelli-
gently enforced" and explains: From
the scientific standpoint, certain
speeds will enable traffic to move
more smoothly and rapidly. At high
speed, the margin of safety between
cars must be greater than at low
speeds, but when speed is too low,
traffic is likely to become tangled be-
cause of the difficulty attendant upon
turning out of the stream"
!. * X y
No set rules, however we'll formu-
lated" in the opinion of the Kalama-
zoo Gazette, can eliminate the
necessity for ordinary discretion and
common sense at the wheel, or do
away with the need of punishment
for motorists who refuse to be guided
by the regular considerations of
safety. On the other hand, 1t Is wholly
impractical to leave the question of
speed entirely to the judgment of
the individual operator. Our yearly
accident statistics show that sur
prisingly large number of automo-
mile drivers either have no judg-
ment or else are hopelessly unable
to use it," The Decatur Review
discussing the same subject, remarks:
"The traffic problem will not be
solved because Hoover asks 1t, but
because of national necessity. 1t
takes a Hoover, however, to strike
into the hearts of the people and
show them that it is a necessity"
The position that drivers must be
taught that their permission to use
and the lives of others" is indorsed
upon their remaining sober and iii
condition to protect their own lives
and the lives of Others" is indorsed
by the Rock Island Argus. while the