Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
OCAL traffic fatalities total
ed four for the month OF

ed TOUR IOT the mOICI1 VI
February, bringing the num-
- Der up to seven for the first
two months of 1880. This total
shows a decrease of two over the
same period last year, as in jan
uary, 1929, seven occurred and
two in February of that year.
From all indications the National
Capital continues to lead the low
fatality list among the cities OF its
size.
Director of Traffic William H.
Harland, is of the opinion that
many accidents are caused daily
try motorists making a right-hand
tayn from the center of the street.
He points out that the motorist
to the right cannot see signal
to turn even if one is made.
UnOrthodOx Turns.
Unquestionably this is true, and
the reason that a driver should
make such turn is hard to I'M
derStand. The same situation
exists at the various circles of the
city. No one can watch a circle
for more than a few minutes and
fail to see several motoriSt hug
ging the inside suddenly pull out
to the right. In this case the
driver is literally driving on the
wrong side of the street. No one
can pass him to the left as pre-
Scribed in the traffic regulations.
l.
turns on streets away from the
circles the drivers can be charged
with failure to give the proper
signal when making turn. No
signal can be regarded as proper
if it cannot be seen. Mr.. Harland
also is urging the motoring pub
lie to check up on their head
lights. According to him, there
has been many cases lately in
volving collisions where the
lights are out of focus or binding
A free inspection bureau is main
tanned at nearly all times in back
of the Traffic Bureau.
Installation of signal lights at
East and West Executive avenues
are awaiting the arrival of neceS-
Sary materials. Mr.. Harland still
is DESTROYS of having the posts
removed between the State, War
and Navy Building and the White
House Offices. A conference on
the subject with Lieut.. Col. U. S.
Grant, Sd, director Of public
buildings and public parks, has
been arranged.
Although it was first believed
that the Offices in the Traffic
Bureau would be moved to the
new quarters on John Marshall
place, south of the Municipal
Court by the middle of this
month, it is now thought likely
that the change will not occur
until the 1St of July. Necessary
improvements in the new quarters
are given as the reason for the
delay.
Responsibility Needs.
Need for some law making the
drivers in the National Capital re-
SponSible is shown nearly all the
time. Last week a case came up,
not unlike hundreds, that sub
stimulates this need.
A collision occurred in which
the occupant of one car suffered
injuries requiring a phySician's
care. The car was damaged to an
amount of more than 500. The
driver of the other car, who was
responsible for the accident, was
a soldier. His car was nine years
old, for which he had recently
paid $75. This amount was raised
by several of his soldier friends
chipping" in. The car was in bad
mechanical condition, to say the
least, and its brakes might as well
not be on the car at all.
Responsible for the accident
yes. Financially reSponSible-no.
He was making $50 a month as a
soldier. His conviction, fine or
jail sentence in no way helps the
owner and occupant of the other
car. Can any one say that this
soldier and countless civilians in
similar circumstances should be
allowed the right to drive?
The Washington Automotive
Trade Association is trying to find
some fair way to eliminate this
menace. SO should the TRAFFIC
Bureau, and, If necessary, Con-
gress. Weekly auctions where cars