Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-24

= UMMER is here and millions OF
school children have been
thrown upon their own re-
sources. for amusement. Many
OF them, because they have no bet
'ter place to play, have taken to the
streets. AS result. motorists must
exercise the greatest precautions,
particularly in metropolitan areas.
Various steps have been taken TO
inculcate in the child mind the prin-
ciples of traffic safety. And many
OF these have achieved marked sue
cess.
But. with playtime here, the re-
<straint of school lifted, the child for
gets. 1t is up to the motorists to
make allowances for this fact. In
ITS enthusiasm over a close base ball
game or some similar contest, the
child will dart from between cars
Z parked at the curb. Will the on
coming motoriSt be travelling slowly
enough or have brakes so perfect
that he can stop on the instant?
There are certain things the motor
ist can do to protect himself and the
child, In the first place, he Gu see
10 1t that he is eternaly alert 0 tho
vagaries of the child at play. lie can
avoid those streets where he knows
children will be playing. 1t may
make his journey from office to home
little longer. but what is that
against the possible loss of life:
Another thing the motorist can
do is sec that his driving under such
circumstances, is not too fast. And.
OF course, good brakes, which always
arc essential, arc particularly vital at
this season.
L he motor car owner who takes
these precautions has made a con-
trloutIon to the protection of child
lite that will have a far-reachinG
effect
Combining. in most instances
striking beauty with marked utility,
convertible coupes have been quick
to catch the fancy OF the motor buy
ing public. No better evidence OF
TINS TACT is TO be found than that re-
vcaled IN the addition of such model
TO several lines since the beginning
OF the heaviest buying season.
The popularity of this body type
was to be expected The closed car
has been III the ascendancy during
the last few years because it repre-
sented the best all-weathsr automo-
bile. But, while the majority bought
sedans, coaches and coupes, there
were times when they longed 10 glide
through the open air with no top to
cut off their view of the skv.
Az L.
Srrang into being. On the warm
Summer nights it lets in the breczes
and shafts of moonlight, and in Win
ter 1T will keep out the wind and
snow.
Remarkable precision is possible in
the manufacture of automobiles and
accessories largely as result of
amazingly accurate measuring de-
vices and constant testing of those
devices and meters against which
each product of the factory is, in
turn. tested.
Many of the automobile manufac-
turers possess devices which they
highly prize and which are treated
with great consideration because
temperature and weather conditions
play an important part in the ac-
curacy of all testing instruments and.
tor that reason. they have to be pro-
tected at all times.
In the manufacture of speedome-
tiers, tachometer is used to meas
ure accuracy. While this device is
remarkably accurate, nevertheless,
IN one of the larger speedometer fac
tories 1t is tested twice every day as
precaution against the slightest
possibility of error
Aother manufacturer uses a varia-
ton of radio in order to test for.
greater precision by light waves and
the photo electric cell. Such equip
ment demands constant care and at
tention.
Violation of safety zones, brazen,
VICIOUS and utterly inexcusable. con-
tlnues daily within the District of
Columbia. No matter in what sec
ton of the city the observer takes
his stand, and no matter what time
OF the day he NAV choose to watch
the hurrying traffic stream unceas-
ing violation of the wise regulation
which provides for the integrity of
the safety zone will be witnessed.
Here IS part of the traffic code
which every right thinking motorist
OF the National Capital readily will
agree is essential: a section which
must be lived up to fully and COM
pletely If the lives and limbs of the
scores of thousands of pedestrians
who use the streets are to be safe
guarded to the fullest extent. And
s yet II is regulation which is vio-
lated not once. but dozens of times
every day. and everywhere within
the city.
Obviously. it is regulation whose
& enforcement chiefly is matter for
The individual motorists qualities of
good citizenship, his regard for the
rights of others. Washington cannot
station officers at every block TO
stand guard over and protect the
safety zones from encroachment. The
othcers can take some vigorous steps
where they do see fragrant violations
Of the regulations, and should do 60
put It IS readily recognized that.
sitter all, the success of that part of
he code which provides safety zones
TOR the protection of pedestrians
rests with the motorist. Enforce
inent can and should be resorted to,
but if the entire city were TO be
watched for this one phase the whole
police force would be occupied
Therefore, it must be an individual
problem.
Viewed in this light. it is certain
that the average Washington motor