Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-02


drive from here to Canada and
= back and never have to worry
about a policeman calling him
down for speeding and then re-
turn to the National Capital and
have to think about 1t every blocK
But such is the case, even if the
motorist keeps in the prescribed
limit while driving in Washing
ton. The motor cycle policemanS
speedometer may be a little IT.
regular, or he may fail to take
into account the rate of speed ne
has had to maintain to eaten
lp. It appears that the officer,
whether on a motor cycle or en-
sconced in a small automobile,
only thinks that some motorlst
NAV be going a little too FAST.
That thought seems to be his
prime motive or reason for being
out on the highway.
A Single Thought.
Seldom does one see a police
man. motor equipped, exercise his
authority in any other way.
shedding is his phobia, and how
overzealous he can be at times.
If there is a soul with a single
thought, it is he.
OF course, he would do more
good to the public generally II ne
would call down the driver OF the
slowly moving car that doggedly
keeps in the middle of the street,
or the driver that stops or turns
without giving a warning signal.
But no, the average policeman
passes up those offenSeS and goes
about his way looking for speed
cases.
Now this seems to be very
strange. But it is only too true.
The writer recently returned from
a motor trip of a little less than
1000 miles. The way led through
Maryland, Pennsylvania, New
York, Canada, Maine, New Hamp-
shire, Massachusetts, Connecticut
and New Jersey. Through towns,
cities and the countryside reason
able fast driving was permitted.
Police patrolled the roads in all
the above States. Not once did
the writer see any vehicle APP
preached for speeding, although
il many instances they surely
whizzed along. The police were
out on the roads to keep traffic
moving. Many times they eau
toned drivers to keep over to the
right and to use the center lane
only for passing. During the en-
tire trip only one accident was
witnessed, and then only because
two vehicles tried to occupy the
same space at the same time by
turning out into the other fellows
path without signaling. Speeding
certainly was not the cause.
More Uniformity Needed.
Now why is it that Washing
tons policemen are so different?
This question of uniformity can
be pushed a little further. We are
to have the simplified left-hand
turn in another month or SO,
which Cleveland, the last city to
hold on to the other method, Is
likewise thinking Of changing.
We have here license tests re-
Quired before a driving permit is
bestowed, and soon we are to have
a motor vehicle title law.
Cannot the reckless driving reg
ulation take care of the speeding
situation? A little undermining
would help. A few years ago COM
paratively few motorists we're ar
rested for going at the then eX-
ceSsive speed of IL miles an hour
Automotive manufacturers have
made the car of today capable of
going faster in safety. Builders
of good roads have added their
bit.
Isn't it about time that our city
officials fall in line with what off,
Gals of other States have deemed
prudent? Fast motion Is the spirit
Of the age. It cannot be sup
pressed.
While constructive criticism of
our fair city is warranted, it would
be unfair to let a certain section
Of Maryland escape. Reports have
been made that the constabulary
of Montgomery County in the
vicinity of Chevy Chase are i'm
bued little too much. as it we're,
with the ZealouSneSS of Washing
ton policemen. 1t is learned that
many motorists have run afoul of
some archaic regulation that has
caused their arrest for going more
than Is miles an hour. Several
of these arrests lately were for
cases after midnight. Off1cialS in
question might do well to confer
with fairer practices in other parts
Of the State.
Outstanding Evil Practice.
In taking a fairly long motor
trip like the one described in some
paragraphs above, the outstanding
evil practice is one that is daily
made use of in the District of
Columbia.
It is the individual man or
woman who refuses to leave the
center of the roadway and allow
another car to pass. This class
of motorists, and unfortunately
there are many of them, stick to
the middle of the street or high
way as if they had taken a most
solemn and binding VOW on their
mothers grave never to depart
therefrom. Even when the lanes
of traffic are plainly marked still
do they persist in this road-hog-
ging. If there is any class or type
of citizens who should be barred
from the highways it is these
road-hoggers. Their actions there
typif1es their actions elsewhere.
Selfish to the extreme-obstinate,
and, as rule, course and common