The Washington times., 1935-01-12
KEYSTONE CLUB
PLEDGES AID IN
SAFETY DRIVE
By GEORGE e. KENEIPP
Manager, Keystone Automobile
Club

Manager, Keystone Automobile
Club
Many Issues Of vital import
ancS to the welfare Of Washing
hon'S large motoring community
press for solution during the year
1885. With the active coopera-
tton Of all concerned record
amount Of progress can be &C
omplished during the new year.
IN the effort to further improve
all conditions affecting motorists
here, the Keystone Automobile
Club pledges its continued sub
Utantial aid and leadership.
The immediate augmenting Of
the National Capitals police
force is regarded by the Key.
stone club as essential to an i'm
provement in traffic conditions
generally and in lowering the
deplorable high accident total
specifically.
More Funds Urged
The budget Of the District Of
Columbia should be increased to
provide for this vitally needed
expansion Of the police force.
The Keystone club recognizes
fully that rigid enforcement of
sound traffic rules and regula-
tionS Is q basic necessity. Fur
thermore, it believes that firm,
just, and eve1.handed policy OF
permit revocation will prove OF
substantial benefit in wedding
out unfit drivers, and that such
q policy should be pursued con.
sistently.
During the past year the Key.
stone Automobile Club sponsored
several important surveys which
were carried on by william s.
Canning, the organizations noted
safety engineer. The recommends
tionS made as q result OF these
fact-finding studies should be fol-
lowed in the interest Of motoring
safety in and about the District
Of Columbia.
Several grade crossings, located
on heavily travelled highways
within the city limits, should be
eliminated at the earliest possible
moment.
Lack Of Lighting
The Mount Vernon Memorial
Boulevard, an artery that carries
Q tremendous volume Of traffic.
especially between Washington
and Alexandria, Va, has been the
scene Of many miShaps due to the
lack Of lighting Facilities for
lighting the highway are installed.
but ill-adviSed economy" has
made 1t impossible for officials to
supply current to the bulbs. Pro.
visions for use Of the boulevard
lighting facilities should be made
by this session Of Congress,
Also, the recommendation for
modification Of the center park.
Ing Of the boulevard, made bv
Mr.. Canning, should be adopted
by National Parks authorities.
1t has been discovered, on the
basis Of an accident survey, that
o large proportion Of all the
mtshaps on the boulevard occur
when motorists collide with the
pylonS at either end of the
center parkings. A comprehensive
plan for changes. sound in en-.
gineering practice, has been pre-
sented by the Keystone Auto
mobile Club and should be ef.
fected this year in behalf Of the
hundreds Of thousands Of motor
lists who will use the boulevard
during the next IL months.
Firmness Demanded
Washington's per capita car
ownership is greater than almost
any other place in the world,
In addition, it has been proved
StatiStically that an unusually
large percentage OF the auto
mobiles registered here are in
daily use.
Such a situation calls for
high level of intelligence. skill,
and forebearance on the part of
drivers if the total of accidents
Is to be checked and reduced.
And it demands from enforce.
ment authorities exceptional alert
ness, firmneSs, and a determine
ton to bring about obedience to
laws and regulations on the part
Of all persons, regardless of their
connections"
Fair.lninded observers of traffic
conditions here will not fail to
take into consideration the unique
difficulties faced in the latter re.
spect by local enforcement Off
cialS. Frequently the desire of
some or all enforcement authori-
ties to discipline offenders is
thwarted by that elusive yet per-
Vading element known as influ-
ence. The Keystone Automobile
Club Is firmly convinced that
long step forward in traffic safety
will have been taken when the
permits Of habitual offenders are
revoked, and when influence will
be Of no avail in restoring permits
to accidentprone individuals.
7OOC III INCNk