Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-10
Savings VS.. Safety.

Savings VS.. Safety.
The suggestion of Mai. Hesse that
parking lights on automobiles be done
away with Is doubtless a thought OF
great economic possibilities, but It's
merit as safety factor is seriously
questioned, Motorists. If they are not
required to install parking lights on
their cars, will. of course, save money
that Is, If they stay right here in wash
inrton. where Mai. Hesse would permit
them To leave unlighted cars on the
street. But whether the motorist who.
through the generosity OF the police
chief, had 1--WE dollars extra in his
rockets. would not come out some fine
morning to find his machine wrapped
around a tree in such condition that
Ave dollars would be merely a drop in
the bucket for repairs is another o,ies-
ton altogether.
Following out the Hesss theory TO Its
logical conclusion, the Highway Depart
r,ent of the District could likewise save
money on lanterns. Apparently the use
Of these markers of street excavations
and closed thoroughfares serves no good
purpose and the District government
could save money on kerosene and
lamps. Again the question arises. how
ever, as 10 safety. For SONS reason
or other, safety does seem paramount
In consideration of trafic problems.
On well lighted. wide thoroughfares
obviously there Is no need for lights
On parked cars: in fact. the Hoover
conference on highway safety. which
has Just ended its sessions in Washing
ton, approved the elimination OF lights
under conditions where 1t was possible
b see an object the size of . small
child two hundred feet ahead by street
illumination alone Unfortunately. how
ever. all streets In Washington are not
% lighted. yet Maj Hesse would scatter
unmarked cars promiscuously through
cut the city. where in many cases they
would be as serious menace as an
uniighted excavation. Any Of the mar
row. poorly illuminated crosstown streets
in Washington. which under the Hesse
plan would be lined on both sides with
unlighted parked automobiles, would
be place of grave danger for the
naotorfst who was facing an onccming
set Of Unlicensed headlights. He would
have nothing to mark the danger line
next to standing vehicles and IL one
of these machines happen to protrude
into the street there would very likely
be collision
In urging his plan Mai. Hesse Is
reported TO have said that In most Of
the large cities there Is no such thing
as q parking light ordinance. He Is
right. There Is no ordinance Ut all.
but q State law. which applies to every
city In every State. Two States, Ohio
and California. have modified their law
10 permit the parking Of unIighted cars
On thoroughfares on which 1t Is possible
to see two hundred feet ahead. but
every other state requires lights on all
street obstxuctions. parked vehicles In
GUIDED
II Mai. Hesse would change his rec
semnendations 10 conform TO the con-
ference idea. or would rewprd 1t to the
effect that uniighted cars would be
permitted on all streets In the District
which are adequately illuminated. he
would secure the support of those u
whom safety means more than a small
saving In car operation II he viii not
the Commissioners should. and doubt
less wiil, reject his plan with emphasis
as its adoption viii be tantamount u
increasing the accident rate thousand
fold