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

While no action has been taken by
the House District committee on the
Mcleod bill, which is designed to rid
the city of the reckless and insolvent
and judgment-proof motorist, despite
the fact that hearings on the measure
were held more than two weeks ago
and that there is a crying need for
such legislation in Washington, the
States and even the Province of On
tario, Canada, are going right ahead to
bring about this very desirable motor
reform. With twelve States and On
tario now in line and other States
busily engaged in a study of the prob
lem, 1t would appear that there is a
unanimity of opinion regarding the
reasonableness of the principle sug-
gested by the American Automobile
Association, which is incorporated In
the Mcleod bill, that should cause the
legislators for the National Capital to
speed along its enactment here.
When the royal commission of On
tario was in Washington to study the
safety respons' .lity law of the A. A. A,
Mr.. Justice Hodgins. the chairman OF
the commission, stressed the point that
if Ontario adopted the measure re-
ciprecal relations in the enforcement
of it could be maintained between the
province and the adjoining States.
The commissioner pointed out, however,
that desirable as these reciprocal inter-
national relations might be, their estab-
lishment would finally rest with the
provisional minister of highways. Last
night, speaking before the Hamilton
Automobile Club, the minister said that
plans for international relations between
Canada and the United States to pro-
vide for the prosecution of motorists
wanted for breaking laws on foreign
highways were well under way, Ontario
already having provided for the auto
matte suspension of permit of any Of
its own motorists if they are involved
In an accident either in Canada or In
this country until they post bonds to
cover future damage liability.
Perhaps the Utopia will never be
reached In regard to this law-effective
in every State and in every province
in Canada with reciprocal relation
ship-but at least great strides have
been made to this end. In the two
years since the American Automobile
Association brought out its proposal
practically every State in the Union has
studied it and an even dozen have
adopted it completely or in part. On
tario has come to it and even Massa-
chusetts, the father" of compulsory
insurance. has given much thought to
a substitution of it for the present
method of regulation.
It is obvious that the more States
that adopt the principle of this meas
ure the more effective 1t will become.
One of the cardinal features of the bill
is that it sets up reciprocal relations
between the States which adopt 1t in
regard to drivers permits and the
showing of financial responsibility after
conviction of q major trafic violation
or after being involved in an accident.
1t is to be hoped, therefore. that the
District will soon follow the lead of
progressive States and put into effect
a law that has no reasonable argument
against it, but every reasonable argyll
ment for 1t. The District should be
one of the first to adopt beneficial
legislation and not one of the last.