Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-04

streets of washington has resulted from
the operation of the drivers license law,
according to statistics of the District OF
Columbia police authorities, and mani
tested in sharp reduction in the
volume of accidents and traffic injuries
in recent years as measured oy the total
number of registered automobiles.
Density of traffic on the streets OF
Washington approximates that of any
other city of similar size In the country,
especially during rush hours, and
with a larger admiXture of motorists
from other states probably than is
found anywhere else. This gives to the
traffic condition in washington an in
tricate and complex problem OF super
vision and regulation.
The police estimate that one-fourth
of the automobiles on the streets at all
hours are registered in other states,
in the District Of Columbia are resi-
dents of other states temporarily living
in washington.
Traffic rules and regulations in the
District of Columbia in many essential
aspects follow the uniform vehicle code
and model municipal ordinance Spon-
sored by the National Conference on
Street and Highway Safety. However,
the varying and differing regulations in
effect in other states to which visitors
and tourists are accustomed constantly
introduce new and strange factors into
the washington traffic situation.
Capitals Need for Uniformity.
The need for uniformity in traffic
laws and regulations throughout the
country, pointed out by the National
Conference on Street and Highway
Safety as equally pressing in every large
center of population, is probably no
where else so clearly manifest as In the
existing situation in the National
Capital.
Careful and conservative drivers from
other States not infrequently flnd
themselves in conflict with local traffic
rules to which they are strangers. Un-
licensed and sometimes inexpert drivers
from elsewhere are often confused by
unfamiliar practices in the handling Of
the traffic movement.
Existing regulations for licensing
drivers have been in effect in the Dis
trict of Columbia for approximately f1ve
years, with 174, 900 persons holding per-
mits this year. The examinations are
given by policemen who have been
specially trained in traffic work and
selected for their task for familiarity
with the conditions which confront the
motorist in the streets.
The test for the drivers license is not
severe, but it is thorough and compre-
hensive. It covers all of the factors in
driving that commonly lead to acc1-
dents, including tests of eyesight, abil-
ity to read traffic signs, familiarity with
the mechanism of automobiles and
ability to operate them in dense traffic,
and knowledge and understanding OF
traffic regulations.
Permits must be renewed once In
three years. The renewal examinations
are strict if the previous record of the
applicant shows a number OF trathc
violations or he has been involved in
a serious accident.
Third Fail First Test.
One-third of the applicants fail to
pass the driving test on the first at
tempt, according to TRAFFIC Oficer
Joseph G. Dellamico, who has exam
ined thousands of applicants for per-
mits, and coming from all of the States
and many of the foreign countries.
Some of the applicants make three,
four and five attempts before they are
passed as competent to operate auto
mobiles under all conditions OF trafhc
on the streets.
Officer Dellamico said:
Accident prevention begins at the
desks in the Traffic Bureau, where ap-
plicantS for permits are examined as
to their knowledge and fitness to oper-
ate automobiles. The care and scrutiny
that is given to each one of these appli-
cations and the fulfillment of the
responsibility that rests on fair and
thorough test in each case may be the
means of saving the lives of children
playing in the streets or on their way
to and from school. It certainly con-
tributes to the safety of other motorists
on the streets and highways.
These tests are not severe, but they
are thorough. The permit system repre-
sents organized responsibility among
drivers of cars. For the person who
has mastered the operation of an auto.
mobile and has studied and learned
and easy. For the person who Is
physically unSuited or unequipped to
operate car they are safety measure
in behalf of the motorists and pedes-
TRANS on the streets and roads"
In 1929 the Traffic Bureau gave
52,908 examinations for drivers per-
mits. OF this number 39,088 passed
the test and 1890 failed to pass. In
some instances as many as five tests
were given before the permit was issued.
Applicants who come from States
CAoCWAlCAC thldb lidNC SOiASe /
lations find little difficulty in passing
the test in the District of Columbia,
said Mr.. Dellamicu. He added:
Very seldom does resident OF Mas
SachuSetts, New Jersey or Pennsylvania
who has operated an automobile In one
of those States, where the regulations
are strict and drivers are licensed, fall
to pass the test here. In almost every
instance they are found to be well
qualified drivers.
Difficulties Of Test.
ION the other hand, applicants from
States where the regulations are less
rigorous and mere registration OF an
automobile gives the owner the unre-
stricted right to drive on any road IN
the State frequently have difncuity IN
passing the test on their knowledge OF
our traffic regulations.
Prom my observation OF the steady
stream of applicants who have passed
through the Traffic Bureau, am con-
WINGED that the drivers license measure
is a strong deterrent in the accident
situation and q very material fnstru-
ment in promoting safe and sane driy-
ing.
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