Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-21
SPECIAL SAFETY RULES DRAWN
TOGOVERN ALL MOTOR DRIVING
Speed Used Only as Measuring Stick When
Really Reckless Violate Factors Tested
for Value In Protecting Public.

oohhOAe Gnu PIUPeE epeeo. Among b1cSe
States are Connecticut, Michigan, In
diana and Kansas.
1t Is generally known among compe-
tent observers that speed limits have
negligible effect upon the speed at
which vehicles are operated. Drivers
operate at that speed which appears to
them to be safe and desirable under
the circumstances. Periodical drives"
by motor cycle officers may tempo
rartly affect this situation, but not for
long.
Recently the Albert Russell Erskine
Bureau Of Harvard University con-
Quoted Investigations in several States
having fixed limits, prima facie limits
and no limits. Under comparable traf1ic
conditions, the average highway speeds
were approximately the same In all
States.
After reviewing current practice, the
National Conference on Street and
Highway Safety determined that no
one Of the present rules was satisfactory
and that modern highway conditions
demanded q new policy. Fixed and
prima facie rules were discarded be-
cause OF their inaccurate and inflexible
quality. The abolition of all speed limits
was not approved, for it was felt that
the practice left no guide for operators
or for enforcing officers. In the new
rule, therefore, there was an attempt TO
combine the good qualities Of present
practice and eliminate the evil.
Special Rule Devised.
The rule as promulgated by the con-
ference Is In two parts. Part one, which
is called the basic rule, prohibits (a)
driving a vehicle "at speed which Is
greater than Is reasonable and proper"
or (b) which is greater than viii per-
NIT the operator Ito decrease speed
or stop, as may be necessary, to avoid
colliding with any person, vehicle or
conveyance"
Thus an operator Is subject to con-
viction even though driving at q speed
of 5 or 10 miles an hour II under the
conditions such action is in fact un-
reasonable or improper or results In
collision. A conviction for violation of
the provisions of the basic rule carries
the normal penalties provided for gen.
eral regulations. Technically, the basic
rules accurately followed and enforced
would be entirely adequate for the con-
troll Of speed.
AS q practical guide for such ODE
dience and enforcement a second part
of the rule is set forth under the
title, application Of indicated speeds"
This part indicates speeds Of Is miles
per hour near schools and under SIM
liar conditions, 20 miles per hour in
business districts and other special 10
cations, IS miles per hour in residence
districts and other specified locations
and As miles per hour in the open
country.
These are not speed limits. An OPP
orator Is not subject to conviction
merely for having exceeded the indi-
Gated limits. Thus on an open high
way, under favorable conditions where
there Is no violation Of the basic rule,
q driver may operate at so, or even
60 miles per hour. In other words,
speed per Sc Is not made an offense.
Really Reckless Sought.
It is, however, used as a measure
Of the degree of any ofense which
may be called bad driving. This is
speed regulation the most severe which
has ever been enacted against reckless
drivers. ANY operator who while NOV
ing at q rate in excess OF the 1ndt-
Gated speed violates the basic rule by
driving in an unreasonable or inn
proper manner, or so as to collide
with any person or vehicle, or who
violates any rule of the road, as, Tor
example, driving on the wrong side OF
the road, cutting In, violating right OF
way or similar acts, Is subject to the
same penalty Is that provided for
reckless driving.
This begins with a minimum Of $25
fine or five days imprisonment or both,
and has q maximum for q second Of
Tense Of $1,000 fine and six months
Imprisonment or both. The appltca-
ton of the rule will divert attention
from merely technical rates Of speed to
actions which combined with speed re-
suit In hazards.
Heretofore highway driving has too
frequently been game Of hide and
seek between drivers and officers. The
oficer watched his speedometer and
the operator his rear vision mirror. I'm
der the new rule both will be watching
the manner Of driving. The operator
will know that he must drive slowly
where conditions are unfavorable, but
that he may legally drive rapidly under
favorable conditions and in strict COM
pliance with the laws Of the road.
The new speed regulation OF the Ma
tional Conference on Street and High
way Safety may appear to be an inno-
walton, but in fact it is merely q formal
capitalization Of the practice followed
by intelligent operators for many years,
and likewise by progressive and intel
ligent police departments.
The great advance Is 70 be found in
the fact that In the future those who
depart from the rules viii be subjected
to very heavy penalties. Enforcement
energies can now be concentrated on the
really reckless drivers with the assur-
ance that the punishment VIII ut their
misdeeds.