Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-03

Gus type of commercial vehicle
operator Here they may be seen
whirling up and down Fifteenth
street. manifesting little tendency to
cut their speed at the crossstreets,
despite the fact that "Slow" signs
are displayed prominently. A fort
! night ago two of these commercial
vehicles did collide at this intersec-
ton, with, as luck would have 1t, but
slight damage to either.
One driver, just within the last
few days, was seen to approach a
street intersection at a speed easily
discernible as being in excess of the
legal limit. Suddenly finding pas
senger car blocking his way, the best
the driver of the truck could do was
to deal the car q CHANGING blow ana
complete Il circle over the sidewalk
corner, nearly killing pedestrian IN
the melee.
Safety Zone Unsafe.
Another truck bore down at top
speed upon a safety zone, where trust
ing pedestrians had taken refuge.
Only Il quick and adroit movement
from the safety area by these sup.
posedly sequestered walkers saved
them from being struck, since the
speeding driver had elected to go
through the zone to insure his passing
another motorist who was driving
within the legal limit. Not only was
this truck driver speeding, driving
recklessly violating the regulation
which prohibits passing cars at street
tersections-eXcept on bouleVardS.
which this street was not-but he was
making a definite bid for a charge of
manslaughter opposite his name on
the blotter at police headquarters.
At n prominent street intersection
an elderly man, bent low and guiding
his steps with his walking stick, was
saved from probable death only by
the good fortune of the delivery wagon
driver being able to swerVe sharply
and turn into a cross street, with his
car literally travelling on two wheels.
All persons thus endangered, how
ever. are not on foot. one accident
occurred where a woman stepped from
a street car, only to be thrown TO the
ground as truck attempted to speed
past Several less serious instances
of this character were observed where
persons stepped from street cars ana
barely escaped being run down.
Grim Retributi0n Comes.
Not all reckless drivers escape per-
sonal mishap. 1t would seem that at
times a grim retribution overtakes
them. One sadder but wiser operator
of a light delivery vehicle met with
swift misfortune in the Mount Pleas
ant section when he attempted TO
Scurry past street car ana. ms
Judging the distance, was struck ana
carried so yards or so and then was
tossed to the sidewalk.
The particular form of reckless
ness charged is a combined violation
of two of the most important provl-
Sions Of the traffic code-the speed re-
striction and the right-of-way regula-
tons. 1t is agreed among traft1c
authorities that these rules provide
the very basis of traffic safety ana
that a violation of one alone is enough
to constitute a most serious oHense.
Thus, the form of recklessness at
tributed to the light commercial
vehicle driver is held menacinS out
of all reasonable proportion.
There are mechanical limitations
to the heavy automobile in CONNER
cial use, which contributes to the
gravity of an otherwise serious stu
alton. With a usual margin of weight
over the ordinary passenger car the
truck handles with far less facility
Even a light truck frequently Is
heavily laden with merchandise. as
shown by its sagging springs and top
heavy motion. Definitely unbalanced
as a result, it's control is further com
plicated.
Limited ON Speed.
Cognizant of the mechanical diff
ficulties present, traffic authorities
are more rigid and severe on the
speed and the freedom of the com
mercial vehicle. This is evidenced
by the District of Columbia traffic
code which specifies that, where the
passenger car may travel at a speed
of % miles an hour. the pneumatic
tired truck may not go faster than
is miles an hour The solid-tired
commercial car is even more re-
stricted. It's legal speed is ID miles
an hour.
Thus. it is readily apparent that
the situation which is charged to
hundreds of drivers of the CONNER
cial type of motor vehicle is a grave
one fraught with grave possibilities
Not all operators however. belong
to this prescribed class of motoring
menaces. Those who have studied
the situation recognize that there
are many skillful, courteous com
mercial vehicle drivers who abide
strictly by the provisions Of the traf
fic code. But there is a dangerously
large number of those who are not
so constituted. These are the ones
who give a long suffering pedestrian
and motoring public the deep craven
impression that to see a delivery
truck bearing down upon them is 10
vision a danger sign that dictates
action in one word-jump.
nhGaTya ion pOnVinrPS one that there