Evening star., 1928-12-09
In the Motor World
BY q. ADAMS HOWARD.


motorists of the National
Capital are careful drivers
\ and have good records is
the opinion of Traffic Director
William H. Harland and his as
siStant M. o. Eldridge, in state
ment made yesterday.
This contention is borne out by
figures obtained from the files of
the Traffic Bureau for the year
ending November l. A novel way
of forming an average percentage
was taken. Mr.. Harland and Mr..
Eldridge took the files of all
drivers named Jones, Smith,
Johnson and Miller. In this list
there were 1926 names. Among
these names it was found that
1,020 or 76.9 per cent had no vio-
lationS of any nature charged up
against them. These figures in
cluded forfeitureS Of collateral as
we'll as convictions.
There remained the names CT
306 violators with an average of
two violations each. Some of this
number ran as high as 10 and IL,
and few as high as 20.
Average Record Good.
On this basis, if the average
maintained itself throughout the
141, 300 licensed drivers of last
year, those with clean records
would number 109,263. This would
leave 32,637 drivers who had vio-
lated traffic laws, but inaSmuch
as a number of these had many
violations of the law against their
record, it would leave the great
bulk of the drivers with only one
violation each.
Therefore, according to the two
officials, there is only a small per-
centage of Washington motorists
with rotten records, and it is this
class that the department is par
ticularly "after."
Going still further into figures
Of average, it would result that
out of population of 555, 900 resi-
dents of the city, only 5.8 per cent
would have traffic records.
Due to the fact that these fig
ures include violations of all kinds
parking, improper lights and
other minor infractions as well as
those of a serious nature, it is
believed that the drivers in the
District of Columbia, on the aver
age, are careful drivers.
Only those who have violated
laws of safety are being called
into the office of the director of
traffic. Many of these, it is claim
ed do not show a proficient
knowledge of the traffic regula-
tions, having obtained their
licenses before a rigid eXamina-
ton was required. Those now
coming into the Traffic Bureau for
examinations in order to obtain
operators permits maintain an
average of out 20 failing.
The above figures are interest
ing, and there is no reason to
believe that the Jones, Smiths,
JohnSonS and Millers are any
better or worse than the drivers
with other names.
Complaint Registered.
Complaint has been registered
over the congestion Of traffic dur
Ing the rush hour in the morn
ingS at Eleventh street and New
York avenue. The complaint is
merited. but this condition will be
changed with the proposed install
lation of traffic lights on Thir-
teent1 street, Tenth street, and
isolated ones at Twelfth and
Eleventh streets. But in the
meantime, it would not be a bad
move on the part of traffic off,
cialS to post a traffic policeman
at this intersection.
The excessive speed limit of
buSSeS and trucks has aroused
considerable agitation. These
heavy vehicles make their way
through crowded thoroughfares
with their drivers apparently OBJ
livious to any speed regulations
whatever. This practice is eX-
: trenlly dangerous and should i'm
mediately be stopped.
Not only is difficulty encounter
ed with this class of vehicles on
the move, but often when stopped.
1TIS QlIIiCUlUy Is IlOG dS udIASCIOuo,
but presents a decided obstacle to
the steady flow of traffic, particu-
larly on narrow streets. This is
caused by their parking abreast.
or often in cases of trucks and
delivery wagons, backing into the
curb to unload. Often when there
Is an available space a few doors
ahead of their designation, their
drivers will not deign to park a
few feet away, but will tie up traf-
f1c in any conceivable manner.
Mr.. Harland states that he is
going to take this matter up with
the owners of such vehicles, and
unless prompt cooperation is
given, wholesale arrests may be
expected.
Attends Traffic Council.
Mr.. Harland attended a meet
ing of the Traffic Council Friday
night in the Mills Building. The
subject of the National Municipal
Ordinance was taken up at length.