Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-27
A.A.A. SAFETYLAW
PASSED IN ONTARIO
Action Is Held Signal Victory
for Responsibility
Principle.
Following an exhaustive investigation

Following an exhaustive investigation
by q royal commission, the province OF
Ontario, with more than so per cent of
the car registration of the Dominion
of Canada, has adopted the safety
responsibility law formulated by the
American Automobile Association.
In making the announcement, ma
tional headquarters of the American
Automobile Association declared that
the action of Ontario Is not only a
signal victory for the safety-responsi-
bility principle, but at the same time
deals a devastating blow to the COM
pulsory automobile insurance law in
effect in the State of Massachusetts,.
with Ontario, containing one-half OF
Canada's car registration, adopting this
law, and with the law already in effect
in whole or in part in IL American
CommonwealthS, containing approx
mately one-third of our car registration,
the safety-responsibility principle of
controlling the reckless and financially
irresponsible driver has made a tre-
mendous advance in the brief period
that 1t has been before the people and
the legislatures" Thomas P. Henry,
president of the A. A. A, declared.
Action Follows Jurist's Visit.
Mr.. Henry stressed the fact that
under the reciprocal provision OF the
Ontario law motorists ruled OF le
highways of the United States are de-
MED the privilege of driving in Ontario.
Enactment of the law in Ontario"
he said, came after a visit to the
United States of a Canadian royal
commission, headed by Justice Hod-
gins, one of Canada's greatest juriStS,
during which every proposal for re-
ducing accidents and for guaranteeing
responsibility on the part Of the reck-
less minority was subjected to an ex-
haustive investigation. It was probably
the most complete inquiry hitherto
attempted"
Mr.. Henry quoted the following
statement from the report of Justice
Hodgins summarizing the findings Of
the commission:
"I have definitely concluded, after
much consideration, that legislation in
PRODUCING compulsory insurance in any
form into any community, should not
60 the whole length that the State Of
Massachusetts, did, but should proceed
rather on the lines of the Safety-re-
sponsibility law and should be largely
based on the American Automobile
Association BILL so far as it provides for
compulsory insurance on the occurrence
Of important breaches of the highway
traffic acts or criminal law or the caus-
Outlines Basic Principles.
Continuing his statement, Mr.. Henry
outlined the basic principles of the law
as enacted In ontario:
"First, a drivers license law.
Second, a mandatory suspension Of
driving privileges of all persons con-
vehicle laws until proof of future flnan-
cial responsibility has been established,
including reckless driving, racing,
speeding, leaving scene of accident,
driving without a license and such
others that may be designated. This
Is in addition to other penalties.
Third, it provides for the suspension
Of the right to drive a car Of all per-
sons against whom a final judgment
establishing the drivers negligence has
been legally rendered and who have
failed to meet the Judgment, to remain
in effect until the judgment is satisfied
and proof Of future responsibility
established.
Fourth, it provides for a suspension
Of permit in the Province of ontario
in the case Of conviction for a serious
infraction of the motor vehicle laws In
another Province, until proof Of future
responsibility has been established"
The A. A. A. Safety-respo possibility bill
was drafted during the latter part Of
1923 by a national committee Of II,
headed by Owen B. Augspurger Of
Buffalo, N. Y, after q comprehensive
survey Of all factors involved in the
problem Of promoting safety on the
highways.
The States which have adopted the
Law In whole or In part are: New York,
Rhode Island, Connecticut, California,
Iowa, Maine, North Dakota, Wisconsin,
Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire
and Minnesota.