Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-24
OFFICIALS WHO VIOLATE,
AUTO LAWS ARE SCORED
Police, Mail Truck Drivers and Others
Attacked for Violating Regulations.
Declared to Be Worst Offenders.

officer would not move over and obey
the law himself.
The use of brass buttons for the
purpose of personal violations of law
and ordinances is meeting with Nation
wide condemnation. Wealth, once the
great factor in in eXoneration. seems to
be giving way to the official cloak.
Motorists are plainly incensed over
the new turn in the safety problem.
What right" many are asking,
has a motor cycle officer to speed up
and down thoroughfare while
presuming to guard the public and
discourage recklessness?"
A safety advocate who endeavors to
apply the rules of common sense while
driving tells the following apropos
story:
Il had stopped beside a street car
to await discharge Of passengers when
a loud cry of Indignation suddenly
went up from the driver of the car be-
hind me. His horn screamed Get out
of the way" but / did not move be-
cause of the universal law forbidding
the passing of standing street cars
while they are taking on or discharg-
ing passengers. and furthermore, be-
cause there were two-foot letters
painted on the pavement commanding
me to stop before proceeding to cross
the intersection.
But the horn blowing continued.
So. as a suggestion to the impatient
driver behind me l signaied with my
hand and arm a motion that would
indicate the possibility Of jumping over
my car and getting by in a newer
and more efficient manner.
Finds 1t Was Patrol.
Imagine my surprise to observe.
when the vehicle did pass me, that it
was the police patrol merely engaged
in offering transportation to several
policemen who were going out to their
respective beats.
THE significant point is that the
patrol had no reason to hurry and.
under no circumstances, was justified
in asking me TO violate ordinances
and endanger the lives of others
The new criticism does not even
spare the civic functionary who rides
in an official car and who has moth
ing to say when his driver violates
regulations Inspired by the thought
that they are privileged, many drivers
Of official cars have thrown RESPONSE
bility to the four winds and are play
ing a very important role in defeating
the true aims of safety on the streets
and highways.
Taxi drivers, however. are being
spared in the new wave of criticism.
In fact. they are receiving praise for
their skill and their ability to keep out
of trouble, particularly the drivers in
New York City.
Taxi Driver Irresponsible"
The reason is obvious. Taxi drivers
are responsible. Trouble means losing
their job 1t is not such buSineSslike
proposition in official ranks. If the Of
ficer who is fooling the public by OBJ
serving conditions from Ford in
stead of from a motor cycle, and hap
pens to sma sh into something, he can
say that he was chasing some rich
mans daughter who was mistaking
the street for a race course.
a traffic officer who crashed into the
rear of a truck and broke his leg when
he was thrown from his motor cycle,
had nothing to say about his own &C
tons He blamed the driver of the
truck for stopping too suddenly.
The average commercial driver fears
both the loss of his job and arrest.
The official driver fears neither. It
appears to be making a difference.
An honor system operates in the
Southern New England Telephone
Co, and drivers compete with one
another in trying to keep their cars
out of accidents. Special insignia indi
cate those cars which have never
been in an accident.
The Yellow Cab Co. of Philadelphia
has asked more than 100000 motor
lists to report any discourtesies shown
by their operators.
When will the guardians of our high
ways, the officials who motor and the
drivers of these city, state and Fed
eral machines be made to feel that
they are not exceptions to the rule of
safety and that they are responsible
to the public? Is it not time for the
Police Departments, mail service and
other official departments to adopt the,
sensible policy now employed by mod
ern business concerns?
Copyright, 1920