Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-12
EMPLOYERS EAGER
FOR AUTO PLEDGES
EIdridge Anticipates Light
Delivery Vehicle Men
Will Be Benefited.
By WILLIAM CLL.IAN.

By WILLIAM ULL~IA\.
Monday will see a majority of
Washington's commercial vehicle oper-
ators pledged to safe driving. If the
requests Of the National Capitals bust
ness houses for supplies of pledge
cards is criterion. Distribution of
the safety pledge blanks by the
American Automobile Association be-
gan today, and since early morning
employers have been besieging the
motoring agency's headquarters with
calls for enough cards for their
drivers.
The eagerness OF employers to CO.
operate in this step in The Stars cam.
paign to curb reckless driving and
careless speeding by delivery vehicle
operators has been apparent since the
cityw1de drive was launched more
than month ago. Immediately after
the announcement yesterday that the
safety pledges were ready to be dis
tributed today by members Of the
schoolboy patrol under the supervision
Of the A. A. A., calls for supplies be-
gan to pour into the office from all
parts OF the city.
Varied Interests Apply.
That every variety Of business house
is behind the campaign for the elimi-
nation OF this terrifying driving prac-
tice is apparent in the rapidly grow
ing list Of applicants for pledge cards.
Department stores, laundries, diaries.
florists, caterers, meat markets. hard
ware stores. builders and builders
supply dealers are among those who
already have requested the A. A. A.
to deliver the blanks today.
Employers who operate but one de-
livery vehicle and those who have
large fleets, in their requests for cards.
have specified their intention to get
their drivers on record as committing
themselves to careful and courteous
driving by Monday morning.
Employers who have not yet OBJ
tanned their supplies Of the blanks
may e'them by tonight if they will
call the safety pledge department OF
the American Automobile Association.
Main $3.50. All that Is necessary is to
specify the number of cards wanted
and give the firm name and address.
Drivers Show Interest.
A record Of the firms which make
application for the blanks is being
kept by the A. A. A. which volun-
teered it's facilities for their dis
tribution.
Deliveries are being made in the
order in which the calls are received,
and the employer who wants his
supply for distribution among the
drivers by Monday should submit his
request as early as possible today.
It is evident that a majority of the
city's business firms intend to have
their drivers signatures affixed to the
cards before the latter go on their
routes Monday morning. Several,
since receiving their blanks this morn.
ing, already have been able to dis
tribute them among their employees.
The sincere interest of the drivers
themselves in the campaign is ap-
parent in their ready assent to agree
ing to pledge themselves to strict OBJ
servance Of the trafiic regulations and
the unwritten laws of courteous driv-
ing. Since the beginning Of the cam
paign, when they We're accused of
reckless usurpation of the rights Of all
other street users, motorists and
pedestrians alike, the drivers have
been impressed with the fact that
making a showing with their en-
ployers Is not a matter Of speed but
of safety.
SAACVGO0s
They have bean taught that the
GOOD name OF the firm which employs
them can be harmed immeasurably by
creating the impression that its drivers
are permitted to speed carelessly, race
past Intersections, cut through safety
zones. pass street cars taking on or
disoharging passengers and otherwise
terrortzins or endangering thousands
daily.
Getting the drivers committed to
safety by means of the pledge blank
will be Of immediate and lasting effect
in the opinion of Director Of Traffic NJ.
.. Eidridge. The use Of the uniform
card will impress upon them that
SAFETY means more to Washington bus
mess houses than the few minutes
that can be saved by reckless and
careless driving, he says.
since the beginning Of Tho Stars
campaign against this type Of driver,
1t Is obvious that employers have been
paying the sttictest attention to the
tActics OF their men on the streets.
Many OF them always have done 10
and with good result, but others need.
"a to Be apprised Of the fact that their
dfivers were reckless and discourte.
GUS Once acquainted with this fact,
however. they all evidently have
acted In the matter.
we have had fewer complaints
and there have been fewer cases of
reckless driving during the last month
than during the several months
preceding.
1T will be most helpful to the
trafic situation to have a majority of
the commercial vehicle operators start
their rounds next week with the need
Of safe and courteous driving EN-.
phatically impressed upon them. The
pledge card idea has worked well In
the case Of the National Capitals taxi
drivers and bus operators. I am sure
Il will have q good effect upon the
light delivery vehicle men as we'll"