Evening star., 1935-01-13
Traffic Chief Claims Many
Motorists Not Familiar
With Newer Rules.
PROPOSAL TO TIGHTEN
CONTROL MEETS DELAY
Most Accidents Traced to Viola
tions of Rules-Commission
Awaits Public Reaction.

All Washington motorists would be
required to pass tests every three
years before their driving permits
are renewed. under a recommends
tion made to the Commissioners by
Traffic Director William A. Van
Duzer.
The traffic director declared many
drivers now holding permits are not
qualified because of their failure to
keep up with changes in regulations
This is one of a series Of proposals
for more rigid control over traffic
and pedestrians advanced by Van
Duzer and now being studied by the
Commissioners. Prohibition of jay
walking also is one of the important
suggestions.
Action Is Postponed.
Action on the whole matter has
been postponed by the Commissioners
to give time for careful study of the
proposals, and, incidentally. to ascer-
tain the reaction of the public. Com
missioner Hazen believes something
should be done to stop jaywalking. but
sees difficulties in enforcing a ban
Commissioner Allen has withheld
comment.
Most accidents, said Van Duzer, in
a lengthy analysis of traffic accident
records, are due to violation of regu-
lations. Most drivers subjected tc
tests, after being involved in traffic
cases, fail to pass the examinations
he reported.
Many of these person had beer
driving for years. and had not ever
read the regulations since obtaining
their permits" he said. They hac
forgotten many of the regulations anc
had not kept abreast of changes. Il
seems fairly safe to assume that thi:
is true of many Of the persons whose
violation caused accidents"
Heaviest Toll Downtown.
Van Duzer found that the central
business district takes the heaviest
accident toll. The surrounding areas
where vehicular traffic is as heavy
have lighter accident tolls. due, per-
haps. to the lighter pedestrian traffic,
he said.
The hours between midnight and
7 am. he found to be the most dan
gerous. He believes that higher
speeds are more prevalent in such
hours and that this, combined with
darkness, the absence of control meth
DDS and the fatigue of motorists. make
for greater severity of accidents.
Rigid enforcement of rush-hour
parking prohibitions would aid ma
terially in reducing traffic accidents.
Van Duzer argued. The making of
turns from the wrong lane of traffic
is one type Of violation that should
be stopped completely, he added.
Speeding Analysed.
Excessive speeds were held respon-
sible for the heavy traffic toll on out
lying boulevards. Observations of
$50 automobiles on Wisconsin, Massa-
chusetts and Connecticut avenues
and on Bladensburg road, where the
legal limit is 80 miles an hour, Van
Duzer reported, showed cars were
travelling at an average speed Of 33.7
miles per hour. The speeds in indi-
vidual cases were found to vary from
10 to 81 miles an hour. The average
speed of those breaking the speed
limit was found to be Al miles an
hour.
Van Duzer found women have q
better driving record than men.
The traffic director proposed that
the former practice of issuing a To-
day temporary permit be reinstated
to give police time to check on appli-
cations before permits are issued.