Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29
BY COL. A. B. BARBER,


Director. National Conference on Street
and Hishway Safety, and Manager, Trans
portation Department, Chamber Of Com
meree OF the United States.
The continually increasing volume of
motor traffc accidents, with million
injuries and deaths year, is one of
the most serious questions facing the
48 States at this time. Each year in
the last 10 years has witnessed q grad
ual climb in the toll of the highways,
and since 1925 the rate Of fatality In
crease has been greater than the In
crease In the number Of motor vehicles
in use.
Only "a States today have complete
records of fatal trafac accidents for the
last 10 years. It is noteworthy that the
z States among the 81 which show
the lowest rate of fatality increase in
this period are States which require
that motor vehicle operators be licensed
and provide for an examination and
driving test as prerequisite to granting
such license.
The remaining three States which
have had this provision during this
time are also well up on the list.
Difference Is Striking.
This difference is the more striking
States the increase in automobile reg
istration during the 10 years has been
substantially greater than in the rest
Of the country.
And this fact In turn suggests that
the licensing system, through the better
and safer traffic conditions resulting.
has encouraged automobile ownership
and registration.
While solution of the trafflc questions.
with its climbing injury and death toll,
manifestly does not rest upon single
remedy or expedient, 1t is significant
in the face Of this problem that those
States which have assumed the task Of
examining and testing the fitness OF
prospective drivers are having the least
increase in the number of lives lost
and persons injured-at a time when
the line Of deaths and injuries for the
country as O whole is moving upward
at startling and unprecedented rate.
Here Is reason fer pause. Is the traf-
f1c problem, which Is one that should
be dealt with only by the States and
not by the Federal government, to con-
tinue an increasing toll of lives, injuries
to persons and loss of property with
each passing year? If it Is not to be
condoned-and 1t is unthinkable that
it should be-that, then, in the expe-
with IL now points to definite remedy
and holds promise Of the largest meas
ure Of relief?
Answer Is Clear.
The answer, among all of the mani
fold aspects and details of the question,
is clear and uYieQuivocal. It is restric-
ton OF the driving privilege to compe-
tent and capable drivers. This means
the licensing of drivers, with examina-
ton Of fitness and reasonable driving
ability, before the license is issued
Furthermore, it means the suspension
or revocation Of a license after 1t Is
issued If the privilege Of driving that Is
granted by the State Is abused, or q
person in the actual operation Of his
vehicle demonstrates that he Is UNITED
and unqualified to drive with safety to
himself and to others.
Fifteen States and the District Of
Columbia now have laws which require
the licensing of motor vehicle operators
after examination and driving tests.
The legislatures of two States, Oregon
and Kansas, have passed measures IN
the last few days which provide that
henceforth the operators of motor We
hicles in those States shall be licensed,
and contain clauses for examination
and tests of ability before a license Is
Issued.
Similar measures are pending IN the
Legislatures Of q number OF other
States, with indications favorable TO
their passage.
The question Is sometimes raised
whether the suspension or revocsG on OF
licenses under this law Is the main adj
vantage of 1t, and whether the exami-
nation and test feature Is not more or
less unnecessary. The facts do not
support any such contention, but on
the other hand, clearly disprove 1t.
For example, IL North Atlantic States,
with the examination and test, as re-
quired by the standard licensing meas
ure Of the uniform vehicle code Of the
National Conference on Street and
Highway Safety, have had an increase
In fatalities in 10 years OF l2T per cent,
which is much less than the increase
of 223 per cent in the motor vehicle
registration in these States in the same
time.
on the other hand, six States that
license drivers by the payment Of a fee,
but without examination and test, have
had an increase in fatalities in the
same time Of 224 per cent, which mate
rally exceeded their increase of IT'S
per cent in motor vehicle registration in
the same period.
Furthermore, eight Southern States
that did not license their drivers at ell
In this period had the enormous in
crease in fatalities Of BAT per cent,
compared with an increase in motor
vehicle registration In the same time
Of 242 per cent.