Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20
RECKLESS DRIVING
CURB |SPLANNED
Both Drivers to Be Arrested
in Collision Cases Involv-
ing CareIeSsneSs.

Stirred by the increasing number of
arrests for reckless driving. Assistant
Corporation Counsel Walter Fowler
announced in Traffic Court today that
hereafter both parties involved in col
lisions where reckleSsncss is in evil
dcnce would be charged with the Of
fense and brought to trial. The new
policy Is designed to force motorists
to exercise more caution, particularly
at street interse ctions.
Under the present system, one
driver usually is charged, after pre-
liminary hearing before the assistant
corporation counsel. with being at
fault in the collision. In the ensuing
trial If the defendant Is found not
guilty the really blameworthy person,
ii is pointed out, goes free.
At the same time. it was made
known at the District Building that
the long-propOsed plan of police anil
traffic officials to bring about de-
crease in arrests for minor traffic vio-
lations through the issuance of a
warning card to offenders probably
would lie adopted next week. This
was the outcrOwth of a conference
Yesterday afternoon between Mai. I'D
win Il. Hesse. superintendent of po'
lice: Col. ]. G.. Moller. acting director
of traffic: Inspector T.. w. Brown of
the Traffic Bureau and Corporation
Counsel Francis II. Stephens.
BY the new court system Fowler
hOpes to warn drivers to exercise
greater caution in crossing street in
tersectiOns.
:-l, .>f Nax. R.Vln vprvnlVnO
The rule involves the troublesome
question of right Of way, as described
in the new traffic code. DRIVERS ap-
preaching intersections from the
right, having right of way, have a
tendency to speed across tho inter
section. or at least to blindly enter
the intersection. in violation of the
intent of the traffic act" Mr.. Fowler
declared. "True, the act r.rovides that
the driver of a car dppl ca ching an III
tersection from the right has the right
Of way, though he may be half-blocli
or more from the intersection when
a car approaching from the left
reaches the crossing. Rut there is
also a provision in the law that pro
yides that no driver shall operate his
car at a greater speed than Is rea-
sonable and proper. having regard TO
the width of the public highway. the
use thereof and the traffic thereon.
Mr.. Fowler. in supporting his CON
tention that drivers apparently having
the right of way often are at fault In
collisions. referred to a recent warn
ing by the chief of police In regard
to the same matter Maj. Hesse at
that time quoted the corporation
counsel. saying There should be nc
difficulty in the Interpretation of the
regulations: 1t means that under any
and all conditions an operator shall
be cautious at street intersections,
and give the right Of way to a vehicle
approaching the intersection to the
right of the vehicle he is driving
There is no question of building lines,
curbs or whatnot involved. The driver
must give way to the vehicle from
the right"
Caution Is Called For.
Mr.. Fowler pointed to the warning
of Maj Hessc that caution must be
observed at intersections.
Mr.. Fowler said that the heavy pen
alties listed i'll the new traffic act Fad
not effected a noticeable reduction in
violations These penalties are S2o 10
500 fine, or 80 days imprisonment. on
first offense, and from 500 to $1,000,
or from 80 days to l year in Jail and
revocation of the drivers permit, on
second offense.
AS for the warning card innovation
the conference yesterday, 1t was said
agreed that the system is practical
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