Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-05


= the lowest of all cities of
similar size in proportion to pop
ulation, according to heads of the
traffic department here. 1t is q
worthy honor and good exam
pie for the rest of the country.
Figures at hand show that 81
persons were killed in traffic acct
dents in 1929 against SO the year
before. This decrease is shown in
spite of the fact that there are
more automobiles on the streets
and more people.
The Improvement cannot be
what is desired until no fatalities
are recorded, but such record
is of course impossible. Until the
millennium such cannot be the
case. One must be satisfied with
a creditable showing, and such
has been the case during the past
IL months in Washington.
Credit Due Every One.
No one alone is responsible for
this record, and all concerned
should be given credit. This be-
longs not only to the director of
trafflc, William H. Harland; the
assistant director, NJ. O. Eldridge;
the head of the Traffic Bureau,
Inspector E. w. Brown; A. G.
Seller, engineer of the Traffic Bu-
reau, and subordinates among the
Metropolitan Police Force, but the
general public, including both
motorists and pedestrians.
1t is the cooperation of all
these integral parts that has
helped in its individual way
throughout the year, and has
given Washington a record to be
proud of. 1t should be every ones
personal resolution of the new
year to lend more complete and
more thorough cooperation in
the days to come in 19303So that
Washington may be truly recog-
nized as the safest city of the
United States.
Each resident, each visitor in
the National Capital has his or
her duty to do in this undertake
ing. Each and every one should
be pleased to unite in this effort.
In this, which is seldom true in
anything else, there can be no di-
VcrS1Jy Oh opinion.
Traffic Light Signals.
The year just passed has seen
the erection of many traffic light
signals. The customary criticism
arose and stopped. It might well
be pointed out that in the ma
Jority of cases it has not been
the lights that have caused
trouble but the way motorists and
pedestrians use them. This is
particularly so around some of
the circles. What is true, also. is
that the real efficiency of the
lights cannot be ascertained until |
the city has pedestrian control at |
such intersections. The lights |
were never meant to control just |
some people at intersections but |
all.
Anyway, new lights will soon
shine on Eighteenth street from |
H street to Connecticut avenue,
and on K street from Eighteenth
street to the same thoroughfare
Thomas Circle is about ready also
for installation Of the signals.
One-Arm Driver.
A real one-arm driver came to
grief the other day when he ap-
piled to Hack Inspector Joe Har-
rington for a license to run a taxi. !
On his permit renewal some time
ago he forgot to say that he had |
an impeachment. He had lost his
arm since obtaining a permit to |
drive years ago. Now, among |
other things, Harrington is of the |
opinion that a taxi driver should |
be equipped with both arms. So
the applicant did not get a hack
er's license, and had his permit
to drive revoked because he had
not properly answered the Ques-
tons necessary to obtain it.
The Office of the director of
traffic did not have to turn the
man down because Of his miSfor- |
tune but because of his evasion !
to information required. It made !
1t easier for them No one-arm
driver should be given a license
to drive in WaShington-that is.
II his one-arm driving is perma-
nent.
While dwelling for the nonce on
taxi drivers, the action of the
Public Utilities Commission in re-
curing all taxicabs to be respon-
sible financially in case of injury
to a passenger is a commendable
ruling. The day has come when
all drivers should be responsible
In all ways when on the public
streets.
The A. A. A. Exam.
During the time the woman
drivers instruction course, which
was given by the District Of Co
lumbia division of the American
Automobile Association, was in
progress, some mere males" in
dulged in more or less facetiouS
remarks. Nevertheless, the woman
drivers persisted in mastering the
details Of what goes on under
meath the hood" How well they
did is evidenced by the fact that
approximately 500 attained pass
ing marks in the final exarnina-
tons.
That those who scoffed may be
thoroughly COMPOUNDED, the cues
tons which formed the basis Of
the tests are given below. There
were, as shown, two lists of IL
questions each, one for the after
noon and the other for the eve
ming class, and any 10 Of the
questions might be selected by the
students.
Here they are, motorists of
Washington. Try yourself on