Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-06
RECKLESS DRIVERS
| FACE LOSSOF Jobs
Employers Line Up Behind
Drive to End Violations by
Delivery Trucks.

BY WILLIAM UILMAN.
Light delivery truck drivers, whose
violations OF the traffic laws ano
whose general flouting of the rights OF
other motorists and pedestrians have
resulted in a city-wide campaign
against them, mus change their tao
tics or lose their jobs.
This is evident in the attitude oi
employers generally. In the light OF
the exposure and censure Of the dTiT'
ers on the part of citizens. traffic and
police officials, trade associations ana
other agencies. employers have mann
tested a keen desire to act in clean
ing up the evil from within, and facii-
itating any gesture from without THAI
will help to remedy the situation.
AS a step toward bringing the drive
ers TO a complete realization Of their
responsibility 10 the public and to
their EMPLOYERS. NJ. O. Eldridge. di-
rector of traffic, proposes that the
recommendation for obtaining a safe
" pledge from each driver be I'M
medtately carried out.
will Demand Pledges.
That this will be done quickly and
effectively is seen assured by the
willingness of individual employers
and the three large trade bodies 10 CO
operate Officials OF the Board OF
Trade, Chamber of Commerce ana
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation have entered emphatically into
ofkrfl
pledges of action in any way that viii
lend help to the Traffic Bureau and
Police Department in driving the
careless and reckless commercial We
hicle operator from the streets.
Many of the commercial establish
ments Of the city which operate
trucks already exact pledges from
their men and with good result. That
application of this system should be
general, and that a uniform pledge
card be used. is the belief OF Mr.,
Eldridge. who declares putting drivers
on their honor would be a definite
step toward success.
This course has proved valuable in
teaching drivers Of buses, taxicabs
and other vehicles that employers
are much more concerned with safety
than with speed" says Mr.. Eldridge.
"It is more difficult TO follow in the
case of the commercial vehicle OPP
orator because he represents much
more isolated case.
Meetings Are Held.
However. if each employer, even
IL he operates but one truck. will OBJ
tain pledge card and force his driver
to agree to it or change his Job, we
viii quickly see improvement in a
situation that truly is deplorable.
II know a great many of them are
doing this already. and our informa-
ton shows the benefit of this policy
Our largest taxi and bus companies
have proved the plan workable on a
large scale II should be even more
successful In the case of the smaller
employer, because he maintains better
personal contact with his force"
That employers are not wasting
time in calling their drivers to &C.
countability is to be found In the fact
that several Of the largest commercial
establishments in town have held
meetings of their men since the del
uge OF the charges of carelessness
and reckleSsness broke.
Among these was one Of the large
department stores, which summoned
its truck operators to warn them that
courtesy and care were the paramount
considerations while about their du.
ties. and that no reflections from
these would be tolerated. Asked
about the proposal Of Mr.. Eldridge for
uniform pledge cards. an official of
this company declared:
Drivers Are Warned.
We are for curling this form of
recKlessness 100 per cent. Although
we already have policy of pledging
our men to strict obedience TO the
traffic laws and even advise them to
lean backward In being courteous on
the streets. we are willing to do anv.
thing that Will help to abate this
general evil
. We have told our men that If thew
are contributing to the situation com.
plAiheo OF: they can expect immediate
and drastic punishment"
This statement summarizes. in IF.
Tect, the position Of every other EN-.
ployer interviewed.
1nat individual citizens are coming
Forward with proposals that Will as,
Slst In the campaign is reported -
police and traffic officials.
One leader in colored circles. who
points out that a great many colored
youths are drivers Of the vehicles
unoer IRE, has come forward with a
Foposai that he call them together
Tor a general meeting to be addressed
oy mr.. Eldridge and police officers.
Inc traffic director has consented 70
Talk before this meeting and regards il
as a hopeful movement in the general
enort to better conditions
Improvement Is Noted.
Daily increasing improvement in
Sne traffic situation since the begin
ming OF the campaign Is noted. and
observers are convinced that when the
attention Of the individual driver is
called forcefully to the fact that re.
form Is imperative, there will be fur.
Their and continued improvement.
Setting the pledge cards into the
hands OF the employers and through
them to the drivers is looked upon as
the next important step in this direc.
ton.
The following pledge card is sue.
gested by Mr.. Eidridge for general
adoption:
Realizing the trust placed in me,
and mindful of my responsibilities to
the public and my employer in the pro
motion of safety and the prevention OF
accidents, / promise upon my honor
TO yield complete obedience to the traf.
tic regulations, to live UP to the
safety rules OF this company, and To
respect the rights of all other users OF
the streets.
II shall at no time by any discourre.
Gus or illegal driving bring discredit
upon the company which employs me. -