Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-28
LOSSES INCIDENT TO MOTOR
VEHICLE TRAFFIC FAR. TOO HIGH
Nation Has Paid Approximately $3OOO,-
100000 This Year In Connection
With This Problem.
schools, pedestrians on the streets and

schools, pedestrians on the streets and
roads and the drivers of vehicles.
The objective of education, which Is
vital part Of solution, must be to de-
velop In the drivers of vehicles q con-
sciouSnesS Of the public obligation which
each one assumes when he drives his car
out into the public streets and roads
where 1t may do injury or cause death
The National Conference on Street
and Highway Safety has prepared the
Uniform Vehicle Code as a pattern for
the States in shaping simple and effec-
tive trafdc laws. Features OF this code
will come to the attention of the a
State Legislatures that meet soon, and
their consideration should have the
united and urgent support of every civic
social and business interest.
Value Is Recognised.
The Model Municipal Trahdc Ordi-
nance, which conforms with the Uni
form Vehicle Code, has been prepared
for acceptance by municipalities. The
value and urgency Of uniform rules and
regulations in towns and cities Is Q gen.
orally recognized factor in the situation
There has been much progress in put
ting this ordinance into operation, but
there Is still much to be accomplished
before the full BENEFITS Of uniformity
from the standpoint Of cities and towns
are realized.
States which have adopted laws with
adequate provision for the licensing OF
vehicle operators after examination and
driving tests have practically all had
after sufficient length Of time, a lower
accident and fatality rate than they hac
before, and lower rate Of accident in
crease than Is found in those States
ufhiah haUA MT od0NfAH aIINh 1auc ND
measures.
Careful and elaborate studies indicate
that drivers license law, with manda-
tory examination Of new drivers, may
be expected to reduce motor vehicle
fatalities by about Is per cent. This is
q saving of one in each Of four lives now
lost, and the conclusion is based on the
records before and after of the States
that have such laws, and with the elm
ination as far as possible Of the variable
factors IN each State.
Readjustment Necessary.
States are faced today with the neces-
Sity Of building larger and safer high
ways, and the towns and cities of re-
adjusting their street systems, especially
where more than two streets join at an
intersection, to meet the increasing de-
mands Of traffic.
SIL-Co anu IOWllS dIS COu1IOIlVcQ Will
the need for wider through streets and
bypass routes to permit proper segrega-
ton and routing of traflc and its expe-
ditious movement. Intelligent coming
and planning to meet the traffic necessi-
ties of today and the demands that may
reasonably be expected in 10, 20 and
even so years, must be given considera-
ton and carried into effect.
The traffic problem merits the atten-
ton OF every American community. Its
adequate and permanent solution rests
in the degree of serious and intelligent
study which each community gives to it
and the measure of service that each
Legislature renders in passing uniform
and scientific laws for effective admin
istration and control.