Evening star., 1933-03-26
ORGANIZATION and uniform
ity are words frequently heard

~ DECENTRALIZATION anu uulIOIm-
ity are words frequently heard
II these days along with the less
i agreeable word cutting" But
if carrying out the real meaning
of these words produces short cut to
normal and prosperous times again, all
will be well worth while.
These words find their places in
motordom and are likewise worthy.
Reorganization can mean standardlzlng
of manufacturers of automobiles on
good sound business basis. Uniformity
can refer to the same traffic laws and
regulations in every State OF the Nation.
Cutting can mean Slashing OF traf1c
fatality and accident tolls.
Momentum Gathered.
The general movement toward
uniformity in highway legislation which
began to gather momentum few years
ago now points to uniform vehicle laws
for all States within the next 10 years
and possibly before, according to j. I.
Banash, president of the National
Safety Council.
One of the important features Of the
uniform vehicle code, says Mr. Banash,
is the standard drivers license law,
which is now in operation in only about
a third of our States. 1t is true that
the present time, but only IA of these,
together with the District of Columbia,
have the type of law which provides
for proper examination and for suSpen-
sion or revocation for certain violations.
Such a law, experience shows. is one
sure-fire method of reducing highway
accidents.
The group of States having standard
laws have had, since the passage of
such measures, 81 per cent fewer motor
vehicle deaths than they would have
had if their accidents had continued
to increase at the same rate as they
actually did increase in the non-icense
States.
Positions Improved.
This is the conclusion of a recent
study by the Statistical Bureau Of the
National Safety Council, using United
States Census Bureau records up to
and including 1881. Since then the
license law States have continued to
improve their position relative to the
rest of the country and the showing
is even better with the advent of 1888.
The States having such laws thus ad-
ministered and hence included in the
study are: New Hampshire. Vermont,
Massachusetts,. Rhode Island, Connec-
I 4,
vania. Delaware, Maryland, California
and the District of Columbia. The par
ticular study covers a 15-year period
starting in 1915 and is based on the
records of the drivers license law States
both before and after the passage of
their laws in comparison with the nom
license States over the same period so
the experience gives reliable picture
Of what the law is actually accomplish
ing.
Several States have drivers license
laws which are substandard with regard
to the examination of the applicants.
These include South Carolina, Michi
gan, Nebraska, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa
and Kansas. Indiana Maine, Nevada,
Washington and Wisconsin do not have
any provisions whatever for eXamina-
ton. In IA States licenses are required
for chauffeurs only, and in the others
no licenses at all are necessary.
There is no reason in the world why
any one who is incapacitated or in
competent to drive an automobile should
be permitted to do so. Yet in nearly
half of the States there are no re-
motorist may be one who indulges in
the common practice of driving while
in an intoxicated condition. Or he may
be one of the very common type of
accident repeaters" He may be
hopeless speeder or a confirmed chance
taker. Or he may possess the mentality
of a 6-year-old; or still worse, he may
be mentally unbalanced or at least ILL
balanced.
Often Too Late.
Now under present conditions in these
non-license States nothing can be done
about such shortcomings least until
after the accident occurs. Unfortu-
nately, it is often too late then-that
is, as far as the immediate victim or
victims are concerned. The accident,
however. will often prove ones lack of
qualifications beyond any doubt, but