Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-14
AUTO INSURANCE
PLAN IS FAVORED
Trade Board Committee
Backs Move to Bar Finan-
cialIy irresponsible Driver.

Enactment of legislation for the Dis
trict designed to bar the financially ir-
responsible driver from the use of the
highways and the adoption of the plan
for making left-hand turns at the GEN.
ter of intersections, in conformity with
a provision CT the national Hoover
code" for traffic safety in effect in
most cities, were Endorsed by the traffic
committee of the Washington Board of
Trade yesterday and at later date will
come before the membership of the
board for final action.
Both proposals were adopted with a
view to improving traffic safety. one by
means of forcing the motorist found
guilty of serious traffic offenses to show
financial responsibility before he again
is permitted use of the highways. and
the other by eliminating confusion
which is declared to result from the
present system here of making left-hand
turns at controlled intersections from
the right side of the street.
Hold Menace Would Be Reduced.
Members of the committee, of which
George w. Offutt Is chairman, declared
florists alike would be reduced greatly
by the enactment of safety RESPONSE
bility law along lines of proposed bill
drafted by special committee of the
American Automobile Association which
would provide, i'll part. that driver
convicted of serious traffic offenSe be
deprived of drivers license unless and
until he proves his financial reSpon-
sibility. Such responsibility could be
shown by various methods. including in
surance. bonding or the posting of cash
collateral
Herbert L. Davis. former auditor of
the District Supreme Court and a pi-
oneer advocate of compulsory automobile
liability insurance as means of strik-
ing at the irresponsible driver placed
his stamp of approval on the new pro-
posal
NJ o. Eldridge. assistant director of
traffic, declared himself very much in
favor" of the principles involved in the
Safety-responsibility measure. w. H.
Harland. director of traffic. guest Of
the committee. said that, while he had
not studied the measure. the proposal
looked good from the point of view
of traffic safety.
T. p. Moves Explains Principles.
Theodore P. Moves, vice chairman of
the committee. national director of
the A. A. A., explained principles of the
measure Others speaking in favor of
the legislation included Chairman Of
futt and Charles Clark, assistant gen.
eral manager of the A. A. A.
The committee approved the tenta-
tive draft of the measure, which would
provide for mandatory suspension of the
driving permits of all persons found
guilty of serious violation of motor re-
hicle laws definitely barring them from
the road until they have established
satisfactory proof of their financial re-
sponsibility against future injuries to
persons or property: for the suspension
of the driving rights of all persons
against whom final Judgment eStab-
fishing the drivers negligence has been
rendered legally. and who have failed
to meet such Judgment this suspension
to remain in effect until the judgment
has been satisfied and until future
guarantee of financial responsibility has
been established, and for interchange
of suspension rulings on negligent drlv-
ers as between various States and the
District.
Owners Liable for Agents.
OIlOeI tltc piOpOSCu IA" O"AlSAo Va
cars would be held responsible for the
acts OF agents with either expressed or
Implied consent to operate their cars.
Mr.. Clark, MFR. Noyes and other menu
bers of the committee emphatically
urged a change from the present syS-
tenn of making left-hand turns from
the far outside of controlled inter-
sections. charging that 1t caused con-
fusion, since 1t Is contrary to the regu-
laticn in force In most large cities
where the Hoover code" plan is effec-
tive. 1t is confusing also, it was de-
clared, because the inside, or Hoover
code" plan, Is required here on those in
tersections not controlled by traffic
lights or officers as well as on other
at times when lights or
officers are not In use for traffic control. |
Traffic Director Harland and MIR. lid |
ridge, however, opposed change in !
this regulation, upholding the present |
plan as safer and voicing objection to |
the uniform system for left-hand turns. |
because, they contsnded. i'll such cases
drivers would have to pass the red sig |
nal light of the street into which the |
turn was being made. ]