Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-27
Notable Trend Seen in In
crease of Nations Safety
Mindedness, He Says.
Organization Made Deter
mined Effort to Halt Taxa
ton of AutoiStS.
BY THOMAS T.. HENRY,

in 1928, and I am confident that the
year will stand out, not only for the
accomplishments, but also as indicative
Of a most promising future.
President-elect Hoover says 1.-THE aver
age American has attained a mobility
that was before unknown" Therefore,
it has been the constant aim of organ
lied motordom to encourage the use Of
the automobile and to protect the in
terest of the car owner.
In attempting an estimate of what
has been accomplished. let us outline
briefly the vital fields in which motor
dom registered progress:
| First, while the question OF automo-
bile accidents continues very serious
national problem. there is no doubt
that in 1928 the Nation as a whole be-
came more safety minded. This was
indicated in the elimination of grade
| crossings. safety movements and public
interest in the protection Of human life.
Uniform Law Trend.
Second. there was a decided trend
toward uniformity In State motor We
hicle codes and municipal traffic ordi-
nanceS, and agencies of Government
showed desire to eliminate the multi
plicity of unwiSe regulations.
| Third, there was a determined Ma
! tion-wide effort to head off the ever
present tendency to increase the tax
burden of the motorist. a burden which
has already assumed unfair proportions.
Final elimination of the wartime excise
tax on passenger cars was decided ac-
compliShment in this direction.
Fourth. the forces advocating COM
fNflc s...,
were completely routed. At the same
to sponsor this law collapsed and the
A. A. A. came forward with a proposed
| fety-responsibility law designed to
eliminate the reckless driver and to pro-
mote financial responsibility.
Fifth, increased use of the motor
car for pleasure continued and the
services offered the Nations motor cara
van were such as to cause this travel to
reflect In the prosperity in every section
of the country.
Sixth, ree'i-.::>g the important of CO.
oTtiz11--sed effort in the solution of COM
| mon problems and that organized mo-
tordom has demonstrated its worth.
there was decided trend toward or
ganization by the motorists to provide
unity in service and protection.
Fight Unwise Legislation.
Seventh, the fight against unwise
laws affecting the motorists was con-
tinued, and it can be safely said that
there was not any legislation passed
that would impede the progress of mo-
tordom.
Eighth, better and wider roads be-
| came the war-cry of America, and in
state bond issues, as well as the demand
| Tor continuation and even enhancement
OF the Federal aid program, there was
every sign that the great masses will
assure Sentiment for needed highway
construction.
Ninth, there was every evidence of
public condemnation of the reckless and
the intoxicated driver, and the courts
adopted the policy of melting out heavy
penalties against these menaces to
motoring progress. Moreover, the auto
: mobile thief came in for severe punish
ament
Tenth, although the "gyp" operators
OF fake. privately owned motoring or
| CARNATIONS continue TO flourish in
some sections there have been severe
| losses In their ranks and many are now
helping to build roads to be used by the
class of people they would cheat.
Eleventh, there were clear indications
/ that the fee-grabbing justice of the
peace and his roadside court" is pass
ing from the picture. The body-blow
dealt them in 1927 by the United States
supreme Court when 1t declared the
degrading system unconstitutional
had the effect of almost Completely
routing them during the past year and
to give hope for the elimination of the
remaining few.
| War on Signs.
Twelfth, the movement to rid the
roads of unsightiy rubbish, "snipe" adj
vertising signs and signs that endanger
| travel by initiating warning and direc-
ton signs went forward apace, although
much remains to be done.
The benefits that the motorists have
derived and will continue to derive from
better touring conditions and service
from united action in efforts to relieve
themselves of disabilities; from stem
ming the tide of wholesale legislative
enactmentS; from expanding road pro-
grams; from more vigorous prosecution
OF the small minority of car owners
often car constituting the reck-
less and intoxicated drivers; from put
ting "gyp" operators out of business and
from keeping the highways free from
useless and meaningless signs that are
confusing, are so striking that they do
not require discussion It can and should
be said, however, that in all these fields
organized motordom, as represented BY
the / ,065 motor clubs affiliated with the
American Automobile Association has
kept faithful watch throughout 1928.
AT the same time it will be we'll tt
survey briefly what has been accom-.
pllshed in the major fields of safety
uniform motor vehicle codes and traffic
regulations, taxation and compulsory
automobile insurance.
Although the statistics continue tc
show toll Of fatalities and accidents
which we cannot but regard as alarm
ing. 1t is nevertheless fact that the
. Nation Is today more safety-mindeo
imam 1t ever has been. This is one OF
the most hopeful signs for ultimate So
luton OF the problem of safety on the
streets and highways. Civic and bust.
ness groups are standing solidly with
A. A. A. motor clubs in an attempt
to solve the problem and bring about
desired results. We must concede, how.
} ever. that only beginning has beer
, made.
Safety Campaign.
The year also witnessed an inten.
siye campaign of education through the
safety department of the A. A. A. II
, mas long Deen realized that education Is
the key to the door and millions OF
school children have been reached
through safety lessons and posters
Progress was also registered in the
work of the Hoover conference on
street and highway safety, as well as
in that of the conference on municipal
traftc ordinances and regulations Or.
gained motordom has consistently
, played an important part in promoting
these two safety programs. which are
, the result of painstaking effort on ths
! part of motoring leaders and traffic
! experts. The highway code has beer
embodied into the laws of many States
while municipal authorities see in the
model traffic ordinance q NaY out O,