Evening star., 1934-01-09
RECKLESS DRIVING
MEASURE HEARING
URGED BY MLEOD
Chairman Norton Promises
Early Consideration of
Pending Safety Bill.
D. c. VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
DURING YEAR ARE CITED
Suspension of Permits of Drivers
Convicted of Traffic Violations
Provided in Legislation.

Early hearings on the safety respon-
sibility" bill. aimed at reckless automo-
bile drivers in the District of Columbia,
and sponsored by the American Auto
mobile Association, are being urged by
Representative Clarence j. Mcleod of
Michigan, who first introduced this
measure while acting chairman of the
House District Committee This legis-
latlon was passed by the House in the
last Congress, but was not acted upon in
the Senate before the closing lam. It
has been reintroduced by Mr.. Mcleod
and is pending before the House District
Committee. Chairman Norton has
promised that it will receive early con-
SHERATON and the subcommittee on
streets and traffic is planning an early
hearing.
The Mcleod bill provides for suspen-
sion OF drivers permits of all drivers
convicted of a serious traffic violation
ana oluers from compulsory insurance
law in that it eliminates the penaliz-
ing OF the majority of drivers by re-
curing guarantee of responsibility
only from those drivers who have been
convicted OF major traffic violations.
In stresSlng the need for such Iegis-
out that similar legislation has already
oeen adopted in number of States,
and called attention to the fact that
nearly $1,000 persons lost their lives in
motor vehicle accidents during the past
year.
This number" Representative Nc
Leod stated, represents an increase of
about 3i2 per cent over 1882 During
the year ending last November 25, IS
persons lost their lives in traffic acci-
dents in the District of Columbia.
Traffic Congested.
My bill is not a compulsory insur-
aEce measure in any sense of the ac-
cepted meaning of this term 1t is, in
my opinion, great injustice, as well
as manlfeStly' unnecessary and unfair
10 compel the overwhelming ma iority
OF careful and law abiding motorists to
carry insurance to protect the COM
munlty against the injuries and dam
age caused by the small minority of
dangerous and reckless drivers.
Because of the congested traffic
conditions prevalent in the District of
Columbia, it is essential that legisla-
ton be enacted to protect innocent
pedestrians and motorists from injuries
and damages inflicted by irresponsible
reckless drivers. In proportion to pop
ulation, the District of Columbia has
more automobiles than most other
cities. There are approximately 10000
automobiles in the Nations CAPITAL or
one to every three persons. In addi-
ton, there are thousands of cars driven
INTO the District every day from nearby
Maryland and Virginia, not to mention
tne large number driven by tourists
from every State in the Nation.
The District of Columbia consists
OF an area OF 70 square miles, inter
sected with about 500 miles of streets
II all the vehicles in the District were
10 be In operation at the same time,
there would be over 200 on each mile
OF street. It's sheer volume constitutes
the major traffic problem in the Dis
trict of Columbia
Suspends ViOlatOrs.
Automobile accident fatalities must
be eliminated Traffic experts who have
given the problem the most careful and
painstaking study have asserted that
of the many so-called unavoidable
accidents only about / per cent are of
such nature that the parties con-
cerned cannot be held blamable
BY providing for mandatory Suspen-
sion of the driving permits of all per-
ooiio SOllFlSIcO VI d StIlOuS VlOldIlOn Oh
the motor vehicle laws, my measure is
deSiSned to strike at the menace TO
person and property from the relatively
small class of dangerous and reckless
drivers. Restoration to such people of
the right to drive is made contingent
upon the establishment of specific safe
guards against possible future damages.
Another most important feature, is
the provision for the suspension of driv-
ing rights of all persons against whom
final judgement establishing the
drivers negligence has been legally
drivers negligence has been legally rem
dered and who have failed to meet the
judgement. Such suspension would re-
main effective until the judgment was
paid and future guarantee of respon-
sibility established. While this pro-
vision does not, and could not, of course
guarantee the payment of final judge
ment, the prospect of being permanently
denied the privilege of operating an
automobile is such a compelling alter
native that it will inevitably exert a
most powerful influence toward securing
payment"