Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-27
TWO happenings took place
last week in the District Of

Aooo WCCh AL WAC O1DOA1N VA
Columbia which were pleas
ing to the thinking motor
lists or, as a matter of fact, to the
thinking residents of the city, for
IN this city there are few inhabi-
tants that have not become mo-
torized at one time or another.
The first was the action of the
subcommittee of the House Dis
trict committee in reporting IA
vorably upon the automobile safe
ty responsibility bill. Thinking
people favor this measure,
whether they ride or walk, as an
accident to pedestrian is far
more important than a damaged
fender or radiator. If anything,
those who walk are more interest
ed in the measure than those who
ride, for the injuries of a serious
nature are more likely outside of
O car than within.
The other happening is the or
der of the new Commissioner,
of the Metropolitan Police De-
partment exercise proper courtesy
when coming in contact with the
public. This deals almost entirely
with the police and the motorists,
for few others have contact where
courtesy is a problem. The new
District head states that the value
OF courtesy will be a cardinal
point in his administration.
Courtesy Best Policy.
It is only the minority that do
not practice courtesy, but it is
time that the rough, insulting and
"hard-boiled" officer find out that
he cannot get away with such tao
tics. Generally it is the young po-
hceman, recently appointed to the
force, that has his head turned by
being given a little authority. A
few may be "old timers" that have
not learned that courtesy, like
honesty, is the best policy. Cour-
teSy brings about respect for law,
and the world today greatly needs
that trend. The order of Commits
sioner Crosby is to be commended.
The report of the full House
District committee on the auto
mobile safety responsibility bill is
expected soon. It is to be hoped
that the action of the subcom-
mittee will be followed. Twelve
States have adopted this plan
either in full or in part. The
American Automobile Association,
which has sponsored this measure,
reports that the province Of On
tario, Canada, with more than so
per cent of the car registration in
the Dominion, has just adopted
this law. May the National Capt.
tai be not far behind!
It has been predicted that in
short time all glass used in motor
cars will be of the mountaineering
kind. Unquestionably, the use of
glass of this kind in automobiles
has done more to cut down Seri-
Gus injuries than any other recent
innovation.
Glass-IncIosed Cars Gain.
In recent years there has been
q tremendous increase in glass
Enclosed cars. It is stated that in
1919 only 1913 per cent were so
incloSed. In 1928 the number
reached 88.5 per cent. Naturally,
the more glass the greater the
danger, unless it be glass that will
not shatter and fly.
Surveys in more than one-half
of the States of the Union esti-
mate that IS per cent Of the in
juries received in motor accidents
are due to broken glass. A con-
sentative estimate of all accidents,
1t Is pointed out, would be that so
per cent are caused by broken
glass, or some $4,000 people hurt
In a way that might be easily
prevented.
States have many regulations
requiring certain headlights, GER
tain efficiency of brakes and in
Stallation of mirrorS-an to pre-
vent or cut down the number of
accidents. Would it be unreaSon-
able to have State laws requiring
the use of safety glass compul-
sorry?
Many motorists of Washington
have yet to believe the traffic sit
uation at Dupont, Thomas and
Iowa (Soon to become Logan Cir
doubt, congestion caused entirely
by the light controls has in
creased. Everything happens
there all at once.
It has been suggested that the
director of traffic allow the street
cars to journey on the red and
yellow light. The cars Of the
traction company make their
turns now on the red light at CAL
vert street and Connecticut ave-
nue..
Favor Two Weeks Trial.
Those in favor of this plan be-
ueve that it should be tried out
for two weeks. Temporary signs
should be placed for the infor-
nation of the motorists and re-
placed with permanent signs
should the plan prove successful.
Then the motorists would have
free way at all times on the green
light. It is argued that such
plan would not endanger pedeS-
TRANS at all and would allow a
much freer movement of traffic.
Button, button, who has the
button? Those remembering this
old game will soon find out that
the Traffic Bureau has the but
ton-and many of them, at that.
1t is stated that 10000 of the but
ton markers are on hand and will
be put around the downtown area
in the near future. 1t has been
definitely found ont that markers