Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-21
= OMPULsORY inspection Of =,

to proper brakes ana mead
- lights has ended recently
in Maryland. Other States have
adopted such requirements. In
cluded in this list is MaSsachu-
sets, whose largest city-Boston
now stands first in the percent
age column with the least number
of traffic fatalities.
The District of Columbia occu-
pies second place, and Baltimore
is a close third. UnqueStionably
regular inspection Of motor vehi-
Giles will prevent many future &C
cidents, that might otherwise oc-
cur.
It is not unlikely that the Ma
tional Capital could reduce many
accidents and lead once again
among the cities having the least
number of fatalities, If such reg
ulation were put into force.
Officials of the Traffic Bureau
are known to favor such regula-
ticn. Some time ago the plan was
proposed, but later dropped be-
cause it was felt that graft might
be practiced among some OF the
service stations. Few laws would
ever be placed on the statute
books If this fear were sufficient
to table them.
Probably there are some service
stations that actually sell" the
certificate of inspection without
going over the machine. But a
little police inspection from time
to time soon would eliminate these
places.
A regulation of this kind is far
too valuable to be lost en- account
of this fear. Let the traffic direc-
tor propose annual inspection of
all motor vehicles in the city Of
Washington and let the Commits
sioners give hearty approval of
such worthy recommendation!
A record was established last
Thursday when the Traffic Bureau
cancelled or suspended Al opera
tors permits. When the undesir-
able drivers and the faulty brakes
and poorly adjusted headlights
are removed from the streets of
the city, traffic accidents will take
an immense drop.
Stickers to Bar Vision.
Speaking of undesirable drivers,
there is a class not criminally in
clined, but CT very foolish ma
ture, which persists in paSting
stickerS of diving girls, etc, upon
their windShieldS and the rear
glass of their cars. Police should
be a little more attentive to en-
forcing paragraph M, section IS,
of article II, which states:
DRIVERS shall have an unob-
Structed view to the rear of their
vehicles by direct view or by mir
ror. WindshieldS in front Of the
driver shall be kept clear of snow
and ice or opened, so that the
drivers view is unobStructed.
Stickers shall not be placed on the
windshield so as to obStruct the
drivers view"
Hoover Supports Uniform Laws.
Uniformity in traffic regulations
has a strong supporter in the per-
son of President Hoover, who,
when Secretary of Commerce,
said:
"The need for uniformity of
laws as between States and uni
formity of traffic ordinances be-
tween cities of the same State is,
to me, SO obvious as to hardly
need any elaborate discussion.
Lack of uniformity in traffic laws
and regulations and the failure OF
many communities to benefit by
the experience of others, have
large responsibility in the causes
OF accidents"
At the time of the calling of the
first national conference on street
and highway safety President
Hoover was impressed with the
lack Of uniformity in traffic con-
troll. There is no uniformity in
traffic regulations. said Mr.. Hoo
yer, speaking of the then existing
conditions. What was hoped for
as result of the national safety
conference was "a more universal
extension of the best remedies
that have been devised" he said,
and he expressed the belief that
safety in use Of the streets could
be obtained through "the Ameri-
can spirit of cooperation and
widespread interest"
Coolidge Held Likewise.
Former President Coolidge like
wise was impressed with the i'm
portance of uniformity In open
Ing the conference he said: uni
formity is of the greatest value
and is highly advisable, so far as
shifting local conditions will per-
nit" The conference itself adopt
ed as one of its guiding principles
that uniformity of traffic regula-
tions is essential. This varies from
exact uniformity in the case of
terms, rules of the road, signs,
signals and highway markings,
and rules for passing railroad
grade-croSSings, to essential uni
formity in such matters as reports
of accidents, parking regulations,
motor vehicle design, equipment,
inspection and maintenance"
The Importance of uniformity
was recognized by the National
Automobile Chamber of Com
merce when it, in indorSing the
model municipal traffic ordinance,
resolved:
"That it urge the adoption Of
this ordinance in all municipali-
ties in order that laws may be
uniform; so that motor tranSpor-
tation may be operated with
greater safety and efficiency"
When studies were first being
made of the subject, the commit
tee on motor vehicles of the Ma
tional Safety Council said: "It
would seem to be unnecessary to
argue about the deSirability of
uniformity in motor-vehicle regu-
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