Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-26
In the Motor World
BY G. ADAMS HOWARD.

bringing the State motor vehicle
regulations into line with the pro-
greSsive thought on speed permit
ted in Virginia. And out in Cali
fornia the legislators thought the
speed limit in open country ought
to be lifted altogether.
Every Driver Responsible.
In Connecticut, where the speed
limit has been removed, the driver
of every vehicle is held responsible
for the safe and sane operation
of his car at all times. How
satisfactory this has been is shown
by the accident table in the Nut
mcg Stcte. which shows that in
stead of increasing accidents by
incrsasinc the permitted speed,
the no-speed-law has decreased
them.
Perhaps other States might
commercially follow CALIFORNIA;
example and make slow driving
just IS much a crime as driving
few miles above the allowable
limit now Is.
Now comes Charles A. Hartnett
motor vehicle commissioner Of
the State of New York, with more
thoughts on this business Of dan
ger in. motor vehicle use. Mr..
Hartnett says one of the main
obstacles to progress in cutting
down the annual total of death
and injury on the Nations high
ways is public indifference to the
situation. He adds that any
disease that caused an equivalent
number of deaths, permanent in
jurieS and less of productive time
as do automobile accidents soon
would be stamped out or put I'M
der control. Experienced drivers
assume or achieve a peculiar sort
of indifference or careleSSneSs
that is the source Of great many
accidents, he says. The increase
in accidents has kept pace with
the increase in the number of
drivers who have had years of
experience behind the wheel and
feel that they do not need to
observe the fundamental rules of
prudent driving. He adds that
the new driver Is seldom involved
in a serious accident.
THE average mans indifference
to death on the highways is
shown in the reluctance of grand
iuries to hand down indictments
in accident cases." Mr. Hartnett
says. The assumption is, that
however negligent the driver
might have been. the death was
unintentional. The evidence may
be strong, but that is most often
the fault of the public because
those present at an accident are
usually unwilling to acknowledge
thev saw it,"
With modern automobiles so
nearly foolproof that accidents
caused by mechanical failures are
rare indeed, many folks are be-
ginning to wonder if here in the
District of Columbia we cannot
have a periodic check-up on the
physical condition of those who
between the ref1exeS Of a man in
good physical condition and one
whose faculties are impaired, Is
large enough to cause accidents,
while those whose eyes or whose
limbs do not function fast enough
can be declared to be potential
menaceS to themselves and others
on the highways. Medical men
tell us that the reflexeS of drivers
under the influence of even a
small amount of liquor are slowed
down. Is it not also possible that
those who do not see well, or who
have some impairment of limb or
| muscle will act in much the same
way. Accidents do not just happen.
They are usually the result of
circumstances, and the man who
can see a possible bad situation
arising and meet it with proper
coordination Of eyes and limbs is
bound to be the safe driver. If
his physical co-ordinateS do not
coordinate, may that not be the
cause of an accident?