Evening star., 1927-05-01
RELIEF IS ASKED
FOR POLICEMEN
Motorists Are Criticized for
Using Traffic Officers as
Information Bureaus.

!. Automobile tourists must make it a
point during the current period of
heavy travel to call upon traffic Of
ffcers and other policemen for min-
imum of information as to routes, no
tel facilities and other matters, If they
would eliminate a growing tide OF
criticism against them in many sec
tions of the country. In issuing this
warning in a statement from national
headquarters, the American Automo'
bile Association points out that local
motorists in various communities re-
sent the tourists practice of using the
policeman as an information bureau.
The need for reform in this respect
parallels the growth of the motor tour
LIST movement, the statement declares,
pointing out that because of the fact
that millions are on the highways.
policemen no longer can he expected
TO function as guides. In addition.
the policenan's information. given
hurriedly, may be inexact and thus
throw the motorist off his route. Quot
ing Thomas p. Henry, president of the
"A A A., the statement says
"In the early days of motor touring,
before the motor club and other aGen-
cies had developed the splendid facil-
:. traveller. the policeman, particularly
the traffic man. was used as an in
formation bureau. This practice con-
tinues today in spite of the enormous
!, Volume of tourist travel.
!. Time Is Limited.
! at is beyond the realm of posi-
/ biiity that the policeman could be eX-
J pected to serve in this capacity. His
: time and his knowledge of the subject
are too limited.
! "Tn the matter of time. for instance,
7 the traffic officer is entirely too busy
! Keeping the vehicular stream moving
&swith smoothness. speed and safety to
! give any of his time to answering
! questions If he attempts to give a
sreasonable reply to the stranger s
: query, he must give some thought to
\ #. In the meantime. traffic becomes
.enarled Always. the local motorist
! who is held up while the officer an
! Ewers the travellers question resents
: the situation AS result. he becomes
{ sHherply critical of the tourist tide
= 'It is needless in that the tourist
Il has so many other and better ways
ssto get his information"
Cannot Know Everything.
!. Directions given by policemen can
!. not be followed always with the GER
]. tsinty they are correct, the statement
points out. Traffic officers cannot be
I expected to have exact information on
the wide variety of subjects upon
elwhich thew are queried daily. Even
& though most of them ere courteous
land willing to be helpful. they fire.
-e'uuently give the traveller directions as
to routes or hotel facilities or other
subjects that are entirely inaccurate,
the statement says.
"The intelligent officers attention
Is concentrated on his work of direct
ing traffic." it continues. "The fact
that he is on the police force is not
to be taken as criterion that he
knows every street and avenue in the
city, yet tourists call upon him for
directions not only within the city
but in the territory surrounding it.
Zone man cannot route the auto
traveller today. 1t has become a mo
n1entous task. requiring the energies
Of an army of motor club workers
Precise information is required by the
tourist He should get it from tht
agency best equipped to give it. ant
Il viii help him to realize that The
policeman is not that agency"