Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20
ELDR|DCE SENSES
. BETTER MOTORING
Permit System, Cooperation
and Caution Are Credited
With Fewer Fatalities.
by w. j. VOSS.

Three factors are credited by Traffic
Director NJ. O. EldriGge with the re-
duction of traffic fatalities in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
They are:
/. Tightening of the permit issu-
ance system and closer watch on UNI
desirable permit holders.
2. Close cooperation between the
traffic administration and the judicial
and enforcement agencies.
3. Exercise of greater caution by
motorists generally.
While realizing that the lowering
OF the number of persons fatally IN
jured from 81 in 1925 to rs in 1926,
despite the increase in the number
of automobiles and drivers. was
effected rs the result of many factors,
the traffic director believes that the
reduction may be ascribed rather di
rectly to the three he cites.
Stresses Permit System.
Emphasis is placed on the strength
ening of the permit issuance and
checking of permit holders. since it
is believed by the traffic director that
here lies the source of many traffic
evils.
irrespective automobile drivers
have been given a much more eN-
dNliiiS dOi tii- tii1 i'''7'
year or so than formerly" saws Mr.
Eldridge. CAS- a result, l believe that
those persons who have been licensed
to drive more recently have gone on
the streets better qualified to operate
an automobile. InsiStenCe has been
placed on a knowledge of the reeula-
tons as well as real ability to drive
"a car. When new drivers start driV-
ing by themselves now they are much
l-01rv e I.sx rr.tf II fnf
to pedestrians and other motorists.
because they have been required to
demonstrate their knowledge and
skill in a manner that will satisfy the
traffic bureau before the permit is
issued
Checking of Permits
Revocation of permits when drivers
have violated the regulations seriously
or when they are found to have
especially had police records also is
pointed to as being an effective weap-
on against recklessness on the
streets.
THE checking of perrlits already
issued has been particularly helpful in
Kidding us of a class of drivers that
should not be on the streets" Mr..
Eldridge declared This is done in
connection with arrests for various
offenSeS and in the course of reiSSu-
ance of permits which are now being
recalled. We investigate the record
&C the holder in both cases and, as
q result have found many undesirable
persons in the possession of permits.
Some had police records as long as
your ANN. These evidently are not
desirable motorists, since their re-
spect for the law may be expected
to be slight and their license to drive
cars may merely he used as a means
of committing further crimes"
Need of Caution.
Closely related to the first named
factor is that of cooperation which is
cited as existing between the traffic
administration and the courts and
police departments, with the resultant
stricter enforcement Of the traffic
code. The traffic director believes
that the fact that law violators are
being appre hended and hailed into
court may be credited with a due
share of the progress in general traffic
conditions.
Motorists, of course, will be glad to
know that the directors opinion of
them as a general class is rather
high He thinks that the wantonlv