Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02
w YHAT would happen if sud-
NA/ denly the city fathers de-
w cided to abolish all traffic
laws7


Wv cided to abolish all traffic
laws?
The question is suggested by the
recent proposal of a Detroit pub
fisher that the automotive metrop-
oils cast aside all its traffic regula-
tons for a week just to let the mo-
torist and pedestrian see how neces-
sary is such control if life and limb
are to have a chance to progress IN
the world.
Mass experience indicates that the
District is relatively free from mo
tor maniacs," type that Detroit be-
walls as having in great quantity.
Even with its small number, with
ali restrictions off, the National Cap
ital probably would experience a
week such as it never had seen be-
fore and never would want to see
again.
Under the traffic laws that are in
existence in the District, every mo-
torist, from the most courteous to
the most discourteous. has been Pill
ing up resentment. Every one at
some time or another has longed for
an unrestricted opportunity to get
even with the parking-space hog
the pedestrian who deliberatel
fiouted fate by walking in front
the car with the stop sign agains
him, the motorist who cut in iron
of the car when there was room
enough for only a kiddy car, the
moron who stopped suddenly with
out signalling. the driver who starts
con the amber" the one who swings
far out to the right of wide inter
section when he intends to make a
left turn and the thousand and one
others who infuriate by haphazard
or careless driving.
What a field day if there were no
traffic restrictions? What chance
to even up for past aftronts!
You are. say. a banker. a baker, a
candlestick-maker or college profess
sor. For several years of your mo-
toring experience you have made
particular note of the fact that
pedestr ans take your rights as well
as their own. Suddenly, all traffic
restrictions are abolished. Away go
your inhibitions. All your repres-
sions have an opportunity to come
out of the shadows.
Your own car is too small for the
purpose you have in mind. A 10
ton truck is the only vehicle that will
fill your needs. Quick and sweeping
revenge is what you want. SO you
rent a truck. Down the middle OF
the busy part of F street you charge.
The lid is off and any stray pedes-
trian that chooses to jay-walk.
walks the plank or runs to the curb.
Either way, you are satisfied.
Then there's that Sinking
moron" who always beats you to
the prize parking space by tactics
that come under the heading OF
"dirty." You have been afraid to
fight it out with him with bumpers
and tenders, because the law against
colliding provides rather drastic
penalties. Traffic regulations, how
ever, now are abolished.
The time is ripe for revenge.
He sees you heading for the park
Ing space and tries to beat you to it.
He never gets there. You forget all
about the parking program and drive
headlong into the side Of his car,
crushing fender, body panel and
everything else that happens to be IN
the way.
The space is yours for the next
few days, at least until his car
comes out of the shop again.
There's one type of driver that
every other in Washington has long
desired to punish. He is the man
who can't wait for the light to turn
green. He simply must get away on
the amber to show how much more
adroit he is than other motor vehi-
Gle operators.
This individual has stimulated
Washington's brake lining market
as has no other. Gradually one has
learned that one can cover loo feet
in the FIVE seconds from green to
red by driving at the legal limit OF
u miles an hour. This invariably is
conditioned by the fact of clear
path ahead. When some restless
soul starts out in front of one while
the light still is amber one is faced
with the necessity for putting on all
the brakes the car possesses.
DuL--OuN
the traffic regulations have been
abolished. Instead of applying the
brakes, one steps hard on the &C
celerator. Finally, penalty has
been found that fits the crime.
There we are. None of US, per-
haps, is so circumspect in his obedi-
ence to the traffic regulations that
he might not be one of the victims
of the drivers who, with no regula-
tions. would give free rein to their
craving to be avenged.
Perhaps, after all. traffic regula-
lions are most necessary.
X X \
Superstitious motorists who have
spent agonized days as a result of
unconsciously cutting through funer-
al corteges now will be spared the
wait for the misfortune they think
is bound TO come il they will but
keep their eyes open.
For this improved state of affairs