Evening star., 1932-08-21
In the Motor World
BY G. ADAMS HOWARD.
- )AFETY-RESPONSIBILITY in driv-
- ing is spreading. It's benefits are
now being fully realized.

)AFET 4-REStONS1blL111 I III OIlN'
ing is spreading. Its benefits art
now being fully realized.
Pointing out that As per cent
or 100000 of the 27,00o,oo0
motor vehicles registered in the United
States and Canada are now operating
under the provisions OF the A. A. A.
safety-responsibility law, the District OF
Columbia division Of the A. A. A. de-
clared that progress is being made In
the direction of controlling reckless
drivers.
It was declared that this law. which
was drafted by the American Auto
mobile Association is now in effect in
1s States and Canadian provinces;
Considering that this measure has
been before the country only about
three wears" the statement continued,
ait can be fairly claimed that 1t has
made extraordinary progress"
Experience in Ontario.
The experience of the Province OF
Ontario, Canada, for example, said the
A. A. A.. proves that the law is COM
pelling the reckless operator to protect
the public by establishing financial
responsibility; that it is prohibiting the
use of the highway to the operator
whose recklessness has been proven.
but who has failed to establish proof
of his responsibility to respond to
damages he may cause; and that the
threat of loss of driving rights under
the law is proving a strong incentive
l,n nv n10tnriSt of
damages resulting from his careless
operating of a motor vehicle.
1t was added that the basis of the
safety-responsibility law is rigid
drivers license with mandatory ex-
animation, and it further provides for
the suspension of driving rights for
those convicted of major infractions OF
the laws. until they establish financial
responsibility.
Fear of the loss Of driving rights is
the greatest incentive to safe driving,
concluded the A. A. A.
Fewer Billboards Urged.
Fewer billboards and more road
markers for American highways were
recommended In Indiana by DR.. w. E.
Thornton, medical director OF ma
tional life insurance company. He
based his recommendations on study
of automobile accidents and their
causes.
Although considerable progress has
been made by most of the States IN the
last few wears. there Is still an urgent
need for improved markings on most
Ct cur secondary highways" DR.. Thorn
ton said. More than half of the serious
automobile mishaps occurring in the
open country take place on unmarked
secondary highways or at the inter-
sections of such roads with the main
thoroughfares."
DR. Thornton urged that State high
way officials should cooperate and
develop a unified road-marking system
understandable to motorists driving in
ether States than their own.
Confusion Found.
Considerable confusion is found" he
said. "by the fact that many States
seem anxious to have individual road
markers whereas they should strive to
have them simple, legible and we'll
placed. Markers indicating sharp
curves should be enlarged and get far
enough back from the curves to permit
a heavy car travelling at high speed
to slow down without skidding.
And one of the worst sins OF our
highways is the number and location Of
advertising billboards. Aside from the
standpoint of destroying the beauty Of
the open country, many Of these bill
boards tend to distract drivers and,
when they are placed too close to inter-
sections they serve to blind him to
arprcs rhing cars"
Dr. Thornton estimated that fully 10
per cent of all fatal motor car accidents
might be prevented by improved road
markings. He urged local agents of