Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-01
In the Motor World
BY @. ADAMS HOWARD.

mM III AWAA
- TOW there must be some
nj thing about this needed
NJ courtesy that the automo-
4 tive minded are beginning
% hear 50 much about.
When Judge Gus A. Schuldt first
assumed hts duties IN Police Court.
which included presiding over
Traffic Court. he declared that
one OF the greatest needs Of users
Of the streets and highways was
courtesy.
William A. Van Duzer had only
assumed his duties as traff1c di-
rector when he made the state
nent that courtesy was much
needed and often disregarded.
These two men know what they
are taking about. Daily they are
witnesses to the lack of courtesy
and daily see the harmful re-
suits. Isn't II time that others
saw this need and governed them
selves accordingly?
Saving Minutes.
II there is an emergency, keep
your hand on your horn button
and 20. No one viii arrest you.
But an emergency of that inn
portance is rare. 1t seems that
there is an American belief that
II you can't save money save
minutes. The only trouble about
that idea that everybody has the
thought and consequently every
body trying to take the right Of
way from everybody else pre-
vents any one from saving time.
Lack of courtesy is an invitation
to accidents and when involved
In an accident much time, at
least, is lost.
Mr.. Van Duzer recently raised
q question TO which there appears
TO be no sane answer. why Is
there always so much politeneSs
in an elevator, and so little when
the same people are in automo-
biles?"
He states that in a short time
he is going to request the mem
bers Of the Police Department to
arrest motorists who fail to give
the right Of way at intersections,
particularly those making left
hand turns. In his opinion mo-
florists are now aware OF what
they should do, and that the time
has come when they should be
punished for not doing what they
know they should.
Title Applications.
There has been lot said lately
about perjury in connection with
the applications for automobile
titles, especially If the car is being
bought on q credit basis. If a
person uses q car and pays taxes
on 1t Is is his in just the same
manner as his home which Is
mortgaged or has a trust on it.
The idea OF possible perjury Is
all foolishneSS, for on each ap-
plication for title the applicant
has to fill out whether there are
any existing liens on his car, and
il so, who holds them, and the
amount.
Maryland has been conducting
q saYe-a-life campaign. which
calls for the inspection of all
motor vehicles in regard to their
fitness to be operated. It is a
good campaign and should be
inaugurated here.
The fact that some garages
collect q fee and give certificate
showing the car is all right with
out 1t being so or without their
ever having made any repairs at
all is not q sufficient reason to
oppose the plan. In cases men
toned above State troopers have
been called into action to make
their investigation of these al
legged fraudulent places and re-
move them from business.
Inspections Worth While.
It appears that it will take an
appropriation from Congress to
set up police inspection stations
here. This money should be
forthcoming, for the amount
needed cannot be a large one, and
whatever the total sum may be,
It Is worth while If 1t saves any
one from injury or loss OF life.
Fewer accidents took place at
highway grade crossings in the
first six months Of 1891 than in
any corresponding period in the
past eight years. This was also
true as to the number OF fatali-
ties resulting from such acci-
dents.
This was shown by reports for
that period lust received from the
railroads by the safety section of
the American Railway ASSocia-
ton and made public today.
Lower Grade Accidents.
Accidents at highway grade
crossings totaled ALA for the
firSt six months this year, the
smallest number, compared with
the same months, in the past
eicht-year period. Fatalities
caused by such accidents totaled
92l for the first half Of 1881. This
also was below any corresponding
period since 1928, In which year
the total was the same. Persons
injured so far this year totaled
2.4OS. the smallest number for any
corresponding period, however,
since 1922.
The number of accidents at
highway grade crossings during
the first six months in 1891 was a
reduction OF 22l compared 1ith
the same period last year, while
there was reduction of IL in
the number of fatalities COM
pared with the first six months
OF 1880. The number of persons
injured In the first six months of
this year was O reduction of 282
compared with the same period
last year.