Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-03
VIGILANCE NEEDED
|NcAREFUL DRIVING
Respect for Traffic Code Also
Essential if Lives Are
10 BE Spared.
BY WILLIAM ULLM.tN.

BY WILLIAM ULLMt<.
That eternal vigilance and a whole
some respect for the rules OF SAFETY
are paramount III motor car driving i
a truth that again was emphasized
early this week, when another fatality
was added 10 the National Capital:
scroll OF traffic mishaps.
Ever since the Inauguration Of The
Stars campaign against careleS,
driving and reckless speeding on the
part OF commercial vehicle operators
n campaign IN which The star has
been Joined by virtually eve = large
busiheH5 house in the cify-Fmpioycvs
necessarily have urged their EN-
ployes to exercise the utmost caution
in the operation of their cars. while
in turn, thousands of the latter have
pledged themselves to safety.
Among these was the driver IN
volved in the accident which resulted
in the death OF the Chinese. Lee Ong.
Whatever the merits of this case, and
irrespective of statements, the fact
remains that somebody failed to play
safe--whether pedestrian or autoist-
and SO q life was snuffed out
Autos Future Mt Stake.
Whirling around corners. cutting
through safety zones, speeding in al,
leys, racing through the streets and
generally behaving in Il manner ha2-
ardous TO others must come to an
end if the splendid utilitarian qualities
of the automobile are 10 survive. These
are the views, not alone of the police
and traffic authorities, but also of city
merchants, motOr-car dealers and man
ufacturers.
While the Illegal and dangerous
practices cited have been most cont
mon TO commercial vehicle operators,
there are many passeneer.car drivers
who indulge in Their, and their ex,
ample is declared to be bad for the
often impressionable and uneducated
white and colored boys who man the
delivery cars
Hence, it is pointed out. If real inn
provement is to be effected among the
commercial vehicle operators their
brothers of the sweet skies and silent
Fights must improve their conduct at
the wheel, rather than just give out
good advice TO others, which they do
not follow themselves.
Many Ignorant of Laws.
While it is conceded that many ac-
cidents are due to utter indifference
to the traffic laws, there are too many
motorists who still are plainly ignor-
ant of the regulations and whose lg-
norance frequently leads them into
mishaps. 1t was for that TSe Star
had printed in its columns-and also
in card form for general distribution
condensed version of the traffic laws.
There is a feeling shared by traffic
officials and experienced motorists
that careful study of either the con-
densed version or the complete reSu-
lations themselves is the only way in
which conditions can be bettered. Not
alone do traffic officials and the police
of Washington have to combat grow
ing recklessness, bur at the same time
they are face to face with another
condition-apparent ignorance of even
the most basic Of our traffic Jaws.
Assuredly, the main body Of Wash
ington motorists is neithee reckless
nor ignorant Of the reGulat ,jons which
have been set up to govern the Oper-
alton of motor vehicles ana to make
the streets safe for all. But. on the
other hand, there is a distinct group,
and it is larger and g1lrptt active than
is at all good for the community az a
whole; which cares nothing for the
IlSHlS VI lItE AN Is vi OlUSIS, anu
which blissfully but dangerously
fiaunts its ignorance of the regula-
tions. Therein lies d.. grave danger.
one which the public as whole must
recognize.
Sense of Justice Warped.
AS pointed out by speaker at the
last national safety conference, there
are in every large city motorists as
well as operators of commercial ve-
hicles-and the one alternately imi.
tates the others evil habits-who
seemingly are utterly impervious to
all intelligent reasoning. Their sense
of justice and decency this authority
declared, is warped to an alarming eX-
tent. No appeal seems to make any
impression on these person., to whom
pedestrians and fellow motorists alike
are legitimate objects of prsy.
While Washington like every other
large city harbors too many of this
type, it also has among its thousands
OF drivers, traffic officials say, many
whose intentions are good, but who
simply have procrastinated in the mat
ter Of acquiring full and complete
working knowledge of the newer regu-
1ations. They mean we'll, conduct
occasionally display some startling
piece of ignorance which may have
the most unfortunate consequences.
Thorough pcrusal of the regulations
on their part is suggested as the effec-
tive way 20 alleviate a tangled situa-
ton.
Uppermost in the mind of every
motorist, one observer declares, should
he the thought that he NAV be the
pattern after which some other driver,
either of a commercial vehicle or pas
senger automobile, is shaping his own
driving habits. Ripping along at 35
miles an hour where the speed limit
is % may mean stepping up the speed
OF an entire line of cars to that point,
so strong is the power of suggestion.
Let one motorist cut a corner, and
immedia tely his calculated mistake is
initiated by those behind. 1t means
the setting up Of a vicious and a dan
gerous circle. For that reason, the
motorist who Willingly or unwittingly
defes the rules and regulations which
are the result of long and careful
study is doubly menace.
II the growing list of fatalities and
accidents in Washington is 10 be cur
tailed. and is the streets and bouie
wards OF the National Capital are 10
be made truly safe, traffic authorities
believe that emphasis must be placed
on a knowledge OF the regulations.
Where gross ignorance is revealed
thew feel that summary action should
be taken. Traffic regulation cannot sue
coed unless they are understood. and
thev cannot be understood unless they
are given at least as much considera