Evening star., 1928-02-12

IL Matching out new crops OF
would-oe motorists. and to ma
ture these fledglings into seasoned driv-
ers who understand and abide by the
local trafic regulations is no small
task.
And then there are thousands of
traffic signs Of many different kinds 10
make and maintain in proper positions.
and miles Of street marks and safety
zones to keep painted, not to mention
the street parades which have to be
prepared for. Cars involved in acci-
dents must be inspected. Brakes are
tested. Headlamps of the many thou
sand cars which operate under District
licenses are examined and adjusted
properly. Today the traffic problems
of city of one-half a million people
are more complex than International
treaties
The drivers Of local motor cars and
trucks should rank among the best
schooled operators in this country II
the efforts Of the Traffic Bureau to
make them such are a suitable cri-
terion by which TO score. For Traffic
Director Harlaud and his aides arc
doing their best 10 iron all the wrinkles
from Washingtons gasoline travel. a
feat Of flying from earth to Mars.
The improvements i'll the current
system of noldiAg novitiateS into COM
petent drivers are outstanding. For
merly It was a simpler matter for the
new candidate to obtain a beginners
driving permit. All he had to do was
to apply at the Traffic Bureau and
take it away with him. Which meant
that each day the number of "prac-
ticing" drivers. accompanied by in
structors. who used the public streets
enl& I4rSino tsn
accident and collision records scared
under such system. Uns&illed drivers
With their authorized beginners per-
nlits added new menaccS to motor
travel in Washington.
At present conditions have changed
fol the better If you apply for be-
einner's permit TO operate an automo-
bile III the District. before the card is
granted you must demonstrate your
competency. This practical demonstra-
ton takes the guise of an oral exam
ination on the District traffic regu!a-
tions The Traffic Bureau provides
these little text books for your study.
When you have "bucked up" sufficiently
on the rules sou return to the Traffic
Bureau ready for the verbal test.
An officer in civilian clothes sits
down opposite you al small table. He
fires questions at you about the traffic
rules Anywhere from s to 10, IL or
more queries. He grades you on your
replies If you pass the test. you are
supplied with beginners permit. If
you fail. the examiner kindly, but
firmly. tells you TO return to your study
of the regulations. Come back and
try again when you have learned the
rules" he says.
CNCE this system he's been in effect
~ traffic accidents caused by ineXperi-
enced drivers have fallen of appre-
ciably The green" operators now are
required to know the traffic laws be-
tore they steer their gas-propelled ve-
hicies cut on the streets and avenues.
Their familiarity with what they arc
supposed to do and what are the rights
OF the oEco,ning drivers has curtailed
accidents. Last year the Traffic Bureau
Issued 1880 learners permits.
The new candidate for drivers per-
nit has TO undergo vision. color ioenti-
fcation and reading tests in proving
his fitness as prospective automobile
operator The eye tests. in particular.
are important. for the man or woman
who cannot see well, and has not had
his or her defective vision corrected by
faSscs. Is a menace 10 safe driving.
The op.orctry tests made at the
Traffic Bureau are short and simple.
bit etnc3ent in the detection Of those
whose eyes:ght Is below par. During !
the las. SIX months OF 1927 %. .465 OF !
tsfcse vision tests were made The per-
Scr un6er tes. stands 90 feet from the |
ep.ometric charts. The examiner near |
b.. by means Of control cords. changes /,
,oe illuminated eye charts as he wishes |
II the candidate passes the standard /
eye tests which demonstrate normal
S.sicn, the examiner shifts the exarni-
nation 10 the appliances used in tie
detection of color blindness. Approx
n1ately 8 OF every 1000 examined are
afflicted w..a bad vision not corrected
b. glasses,
II, on the other hand. the eye tests
bring TO light vision defects. the per-
son is referred TO professional optomc-
t-lsts for complete examinations.
'Thirty-hye members Of the District OF
Columbia Optometric Society have VOL
pnteered their free services for such tests.
The applicant can select which one OF
these experts he will visit for an eye
examination The optometrist reports
subsequently TO the Traffic Bureau con-
ceyning the condition OF the candidates.
vision. II glasses will correct the de-
feet. the applicant Is required TO secure
them Eventually when he revisits the
passes his second eye examination. his
permit is marked restricted 10 operate
only while using proper glasses 70 cor
Y~ct defective vision"
The color tests conSiEt In the identi-
cation Of different colored lights such
ss are used on the automatic eicctri-
fed trafIlc signals Amber. green and
red lights are flashed IN sequence and
the applicant is required 10 identity
each li2il. By color and TO explain
what the different coiors stand for,
ss red 70 stop, green 10 go and aInbe:
tne caution and change signal Cases
q coios blindness apparently are very
rare, as less than one dozen applicants
have peen cenied operators permits
curing the last ila years because of
sacn ailments. Some memorize the
sequence n which the street signals
change and repeat this order as the tent
!.ghts a: the Trafflc Bureau are flashed
b@fcre them They fail In the test be-
cause tne indoor lights have different
color rotation Color oumbness Is, how
eTer, rather prevalent among the appli'
carts for drivers permits. This inablI-
.ty 70 identify coiors is confined To ne
most illiteTstc and ignorant .llo apply
for Iega!izeo permission " drive autl-
ynoty.les IN the District. u is niflcuf
fey the most Of Us 70 believe that there
EgrGFeIs ~ 1Gsi9fs In W2aIiuRtlJn