Evening star., 1927-09-17
Abolition of Michigan Speed
Law Wins Approval of Many

Michisan's action in abolishing the
speed limit on State highways has
attracted the attention of the entire
country, Much Of the resulting COM
ment indicates approval Of the Mich
igan policy. with accompanying pre-
dictiOns that other States will take
similar action. Judgment of drivers is
emphasized as Of greater importance
than specific rates Of speed, enforced
by traffic officers. Recklessness would
be punishable under the Michigan law
THE experiment will be watched .
says the Utica Observer. Dispatch
which takes note of the fact that 'in
the meantime, the driver is responsible
for the damage he does in other
States, regardless of speed-limit laws y
The Roanoke World-News recognizes
that "the science of regulating high
way traffic is far from settled one. y
and feels that "all sensible expert
ments are to be watched. to see which
of them prove their value by results.
But as traffic increases" continues
that paper. "unless we are to spend a
great deal of money on widening our
main roads, it is apparent that more
emphasis must be placed on speeding
up traffic, and less on slowing 1t
down."
'The Michigan law represents wha t
may become a trend in motor-traffic
regulation" in the opinion of the st.
Paul Dispatch. which sees in it "a
frank confession that arbitrary speed
regulations have not been enforced and
may he regarded as impossible Of en-
forcement." The Atlanta Journal re-
calls that motorists everywhere have
clamcred for laws that would allow
them the exercise Of their judgment
in the matter Of speed" and that 1.-The
Georgia Legislature at its recent ses-
sion raised the State speed limit from
80 to 40 miles an hour" and concludes
flexible control Of country driving will
be watched with wide interest"
"Men who have studied traffic prob
lems," according to the indianapolis
News, "have asserted that the slow
driver may be as great a menace as
the speed Demon" although that paper
adds that "the slow driver is rare
enough to he unimportant in the cam
paign to bring about safer traffic con-
ditions." The New Orleans Tribune
considers that the new law is based on
Il theory which is sound. remarking
that it removes the limitations on the
careful and competent drivers while at
the same time providing a mandatory
Jail sentence for careless and reckless
driving" The Tribune concludes thai
the law '1eaves a lot to the judgment
and discretion of the motorists, and
whether or not this trust is justified
remains to be seen. Theory is one
thing; practice another"
Several States during the past few
years have stepped up the speed
limit" states the Scranton Times,
while the Schenectady Gazette de-
others is at stake. the popular concep-
markedly in recent years.; that "at
one time the rate itself was supposed
to constitute the menace" but that
now we know that it may be danger
Gus to drive car miles an hour in
some streets If pedestrians. for in
stance. are dashing in and out of traf-
fic" The San Rernardino Sun holds
that "if the spirit in which the viola
ton of regulations is made were given
more weight than the mere violation
itself. the educational effect would be
great"
The Michigan experiment impresses
the TeXarkana Gazette as "a pretty
good solution of the speed problem"
for most motorists are going to look
after their own safety on the high
way, which stops them from travelling
at excessive speed" The Terre Haute
Star also points out that the driver
under this law must have his car
under control at all times in relation
TO traffic conditions, otherwise arrest