Evening star., 1928-10-27
Fire Engine Sneed,

With a coroner's jury recommending
an arbitrary speed limit for fire ap-
paratus. and an aroused public Offering
suggestions of all kinds to abate the
trafic dangers of fast runs by emer-
gency vehicles, the National Capital is
still displaying marked concern over the
accident four days ago which resulted
in the death of one woman and the
critical injury of another. In bringing
In its verdict of accidental death in
the case of Miss Cecilia King the jury
urged that a set of regulations be drawn
UP to cover the operation of fire ap-
paratus, while suggestions to erect street
sirens on fire runs and other safety
measures have come from an interested
public.
Although witnesses to Mondays ac-
cident differ widely in their estimates
Of the speed Of the battalion chiefs
roadster at the time 1t struck its unfor-
tunate victims, the question of speed for
all emergency vehicles is one of mo-
ment in view of the mounting list of
fatalities. One school of thought on
the subject holds that all restrictions
should be removed from the operation
Of these vehicles on the theory
that speed may mean the saving of
many lives. The other view is that a
few seconds delay in the time of ar
rival Of the engine cannot, except in the
rarest of cases, denote the difference be-
tween life ari death, and that in the
rush through the streets many persons
lives are endangered.
On one phase Of the question the two
schools, however, are in absolute har-
mony, and that is that regardless of
the speed at which engines travel they
should be granted absolute right of way,
and that stupid and defiant motorists
and pedestrians who ignore the scream
ing sirens should be sunmarily dealt
with in court. The time-worn excuse
of motorists and others that "they did
not hear the siren" has about run its
course in the National Capital, and lit
tie leniency should be shown when this
modern type of arrogant road hog ap-
pears before the bar of justice as a re-
suit of the activities of Maj. Hesse's
flying motor cycle squadron.
Il may be that the time has arrived
seriously to consider the question of a
reasonable limitation on the speed of
emergency vehicles. Trafic conditions,
not only in Washington but in other
large cities, are constantly becoming
more difficult to cope with, and it is
well within the realm of logic that
high speed for any kind of vehicle is a
direct invitation to disaster. It Is pos
Sible, of course, that a general warning
to fire engine drivers to take fewer
chances in the performance Of their
duties might be just as effective as an
arbitrary speed limit. Many runs are
made at slack traffic periods of the day
or night, and at these times adherence
to a definite limit might well handicap
the department in reaching the scene of
. conflagration at speed which under
these circumstances would be consistent
with safety.
This accident, tragic and unfortu-
nate as it was, will assuredly yield bene-
fictal results to the entire community,
as 1t has served to focus public atten-
ton upon matter that has too long
been regarded in an Indifferent manner.
The best thought of the community is
now at work on the problem of provid-
ing quick and ef1cient Fire Depart
ment service with the elimination of
much Of The hazard. Such concentra-
ton Of endeavor cannot fail to produce
q satisfactory adjustment.