Evening star., 1934-05-25
|L|QUOR, DRIVING
| ARE UNM|XAbLE,
GOV. ELY WARNS
Soon Be Unsafe to Motor
| After Cocktail Hour,
He Predicts.
IS CHIEF SPEAKER
| AT SAFETY SESSION
Conference Takes Up Model Traf-
fc Laws for Submission
to States.

Unless our present record i'm
proves, the time is not far distant
when it won't be safe for any one to
venture on our streets after the cock
tail hour"
Thus Gov. Joseph B. Ely Of MaSsa-
chuSetts, a leading foe of prohibition.
summarized one of the two greatest
trafic problems confronting the
country. He was the chief speaker
tooay at the fourth National Con-
ference on Street and Highway Safety
which is to be concluded late today
at the United States Chamber Of
Commerce.
Mayor Speaks.
Gov. Ely, who spoke on the re-
sponSibility Of the States in connec-
tion with highway safety, was fol-
lowed by Mayor Bernard F. Dick
mann of st. Louis, who discussed the
same subject from the standpoint Of
municipalities. Secretary of Com
merce Roper presided at the FORE
noon session.
This afternoon was devoted to final
approval Of series of model motor
vehicle and traffic laws drafted by a
group of committees that have worked
more than a year in drawing then
up. The conference plans to sub
NIT them to the Legislatures of A
States that will be in session during
the next II months and to all the
a ott ~
Drunken Driving Problem.
Gov. Ely declared drunken driving
and education of the public in traffic
regulations as the two most pressing
problems facing the States.
A total of $4,000 people are killed
annually, he said, because of care
lessness. Another 10000 are made
permanent cripples or invalids. The
cost to the public exceeds $1,000 900,
exclusive of hospital and funeral bills,
he added.
I'VE shrink from the thought Of
war" he said, "and yet war alone
holds a parallel to the death and
destruction Of our traffic accidents.
The question of drunken drivers
is no longer a local problem, for the
operator of the car may drive through
a series of local jurisdictions menacing
the lives Of every one on the streets.
The responsibility for the drunken
driver rests with the States
Uniform Laws Needed.
This one problem points out the
necessity for uniform laws in all juris-
dictions, and I believe such uniform
ity will reduce materially the number
of accidents"
Gov. Ely also advocated a system
of centrally trained and controlled po-
lice, not alone for traffic regulation,
but also to apprehend criminals.
IL Recommendations Made.
Mayor Dickmann submitted II rec
concentrations, which, he said, are
the conclusions drawn after an ex-
haustive traffic survey made in st.
Louis, as follows:
q. That the greatest possible care
and wisdom be exercised in the enact
ment of traffic ordinances so as to
make them reasonable and practicao3>.
"2. That there be developed, so FAR
as practicable, uniform traffic regula-
tions in our several municipalities.
"3. That the drivers license laws
and ordinances be enacted so that
each municipality shall have the pro-
lection of such a law as safeguard.
Respect Regulations.
az. That public sentiment be en-
couraged to treat traffic regulations
with respect which the seriousness Of
the traffic problem demands and that
all cases arising from traffic violations
be disposed Of on their merits and not
on the basis of personal or political
favors.
IS. That stern, vigorous policy
OF enforcement be adopted against all
traffic violations and especially against
those involving intoxicated and hit
and-run cases.
"6. That license plates be kept
clean and visible, the rear plate to
be adequately Illuminated at night.
az. That the regulations covering
binding and one headlight be strictly
enforced.
''8. That pedestrians be required to
observe traffic signals at intersections
and be discouraged from crossing
streets at intersections.
"9. That ample Specialization be
provided.
40. That there be at all times a
close cooperation among all agencies
having to do with the operation. en-
forcement and regulation of traffic.
al. That representatives of these
various agencies constitute perma-
nent committee for advice and con-
sultation for the maintenance of a
continued study Of the traffic prob
lem"