Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-19

! STANDARDIZATION EifNEiS dAtttitSt FANfAA'
! inent phase OF American life--notorins
with the adoption of uniform traffic
| codes for States and municipalities
] The States one by one are falling II
| line with the uniform vehicle code
J drawn up by the National Conference
! on Street and Highway Safety, Nov
/ the municipalities are being called upon
/ to adopt a model municipal trafflc ordi-
nance.
Early this week something like 10000
copies Of the model local ordinance viii
be mailed out from here to a list Of as
many persons The model code will
be urged upon the city councils and
town boards. with the object Of har-
monizing the laws of all municipalities
SO that the auto driver who adheres tc
his home town regulations won't get
into traffic jams elsewhere.
Aid 10 Tourists.
Uniform speed limits, traffic signals
right of way ruleS-in fact. everything
pertaining to traffic except uniform
trafic cops leXicon--are included in
the model municipal traffic ordinance
II is the firm conviction Of officials Of
the Department Of Commerce who arc
sponsoring the uniformity movement
along with ten interested associations
that that's the only way the drivers of
the Nations 20.00000 automobiles and
100000 trucks can be guided safely
when they venture outside their accus-
toned environs.
A high Government official. inter-
ested in the uniformity project, points
out that he could be arrested and con-
victed on a dozen counts while driving
between the cities of Washington and
New York if he carefully followed the
traffic regulations of either He said
he really ought to know the traffic laws
in force in the District of Columbia,
Maryland. Delaware. Pennsylvania. New
Jersey and New York and the ordi-
nances Of the towns he passes through
before arriving at his destination on a
motor trip from the Capital.
The same condition. he said. is true
almost everywhere in the United States.
A legal research scholarship is almost
a prerequisite for lawfully undertaking
an interstate or intercitv journey by
motor car.
Prevent Deaths.
However. all this uniform traffic law
movement isn't designed merely to re-
lieve motorists from the outburstS of
hard-boiled traffic cops who don't care
whether or not cars license bears an
out-of-State license or out-of-town
marker even when the driver has un-
Willingly violated regulation.
There are sound safety and economic
reasons back of the project. The coun-
trys traffic toll now approaches Is. 900
deaths and nearly 10000 personal in
juries annually About IS per cent is
ascribed to motor vehicles and. unlike
railroad and factory accidents. the toll
is increasing rather than reducing year
by year
Then about $500. 0o0. 900 worth of
property is lost each year In motor
vehicle accidents, according to trust
worthy estimates
That accounts for the interest of the
1000 or more delegates who attended
the two street and highway conferences
here at the behest of governors of near
~ every State in the Union. II ac-
counts also for the permanent organi-
cation set up in Washington under the
aegis of the Department of Commerce
and supported actively and financially
by the American Automobile Associa-
ton. American Electric Railway Associ-
alton. American Mutual Alliance. Amer
lean Railway Association, United States
citation of Taxicab Owners National
Automobile Chamber of Commerce. Ma
tional Bureau of Casualty and Surety
Underwriters, National Research Coun-
ell and National Safety Council.
Cities Above le.ee9.
The uniform State vehicle code and
the uniform municipal ordinance are
by far the most important ottcomes of
the conferences held In 1924 and 1925.
the efforts Of which are only now bear
ing fruit. The State code comprises a
uniform motor vehicle registration act,
uniform anti-theft act. a uniform OPP
orators and chauffeurs' license act and
uniform act regulating the operation
Of vehicles on highways
st is being pressed upon the legisla-
lures of all the States and, in some
particulars at least. was adopted by the
legislatures of ten States in 1927. Most
Of the States then supplemented their
existing laws with its provisions. but
Pennsylvania adopted substantially the
verbatim code TO replace its old laws
New Jersey only recently has fallen in
line. Other States nave the matter
under consideration.
The 10000 copies of the model mu-
nictpal traffic ordinance are going out
next week 10 the mayors OF all munich
palities having a population of 10000
or more, the chiefs of police of all mu-
inequalities of 25 900 or more city man
ayers, secretaries of chambers of COM
merce, motor clubs safety clubs and
other civic organizations and private