Evening star., 1935-03-24

the safety responsibility law, a
ouirement and control for pedeS
Unquestionably it is up to Ct
the traffic hazards in the Natio
dents will not decrease material,
part for the District in this m;
The recently appointed Woman's
Subcommittee of the Advisory Board
of the American Automobile Associa-
ton has started well. Already they
have found out that constant danger
exists in machines parked too near
street intersections and have asked
the Traffic Bureau to enforce prasent
regulations covering the matter and to
paint curbstoneS effectively to pre-
vent violations.
The present law prohibits parking
of cars within 20 feet of the building
line. and according to William Van
DuZer, traffic director, the regulation
should be made 80 feet. There Is no
question that many accidents are
caused by cars being parked too near
the intersection. preventing both mo-
toriSt and pedestrian from seeing each
other approach.
The recommendation of Maj. E. w.
Brown. chief of police, and Capt. Ed
ward Kelly of the third precinct, that
the Park and Metropolitan Police
should be merged under single unit,
is wise plan. 1t is not question OF
cooperation. but of more efficiency.
Inspector B. A. Lamb of the Traffic
Bureau hailed the plea recently made
. in these columns for more motor cycle
men. Mr.. Lamb concurs in the thought
that the streets of the city would be
made safer and also states that better
protection against robbery in homes
and stores would be brought about.
Three hundred motor cycle men are
not too many for a city the size of
Washington and would afford the Cap
ital three daily shifts of 100 men. The
psychology of seeing these men daily
patroling the streets would have a
decided effect. Few are likely to
speed or violate other traffic rules if
a policeman is in sight or likely to
come in sight at any moment. At the
present time, with less than IL on
duty, the chances of seeing a motor
cycle policeman except in some Sec
consequently speed up and take
chances.
Inspector Lamb is of the opinion
that speeding is responsible for many
accidents. He does not mean speed
itself, but speeding in certain places
and at certain times. He does not
favor decreasing the speed limit here,
but would prefer stricter reckless
driving law in its stead. At the pres
ent time convictions on reckless driv-
ing charges are almost impossible un-
less an accident has occurred.
Recklessness Defined.
Mr. Lamb believes as Judge John
p. Mcmahon has often stated that
driver may be going 40 miles an
hour at certain times and at certain
places without being reckless, but may
be reckless driving 5 miles an hour
at other places.
Fast driving with the car under
control no matter what may turn up
is not recklessness. Slow driving does
not necessarily mean control of the
car. 1t is really control that counts.
Last Thursday came Spring, at
least according to the calendar
check up on the car should be made
as soon as the cold days really are
over. Tightening up all nuts and
bolts should be the first considera-
ton. Then should come changing of
oil and grease. Next radiator clean
ing and inspection should be made
Then if the money has not run out
a check up of the finish of the car is
worthwhile.
In preparing for Spring and Sum-
mer driving, it is important to ex-
anime the car top and if it is not
in perfect condition, to give it prompt
attention, says G. w. Sherin, chem
ical speciality expert of paint and
varnish company. After long ex-
posure to Winter hardships, it is
quite possible that the top material
will have grown dull and check
marked, he states. If the top is old,
cracks may have actually penetrated
right through the rubber coating, per-
mitting rain to leak into the car
interior. On the other hand, the top
material may be found in good con-
dition, but that cracks have opened
up along the top moulding, permitting
leaks to occur at those points.
Leads to Expenses.
strangely enough. the chief rea-
son for preventing leaks is not the
inconvenience caused by rain run
ming through to the car interior"
says Mr.. Sherin. IF that were all |
an owner might feel like putting up |
with leak for few months in order |
to avoid spending more money on the |
car. However, this is a case of |
penny wise and pound foolish be- |
cause a neglected leak soon leads to
expensive repair bills. Many a car |
owner has assumed that a ieaky top |
simply requires the installation of |
new piece of top material but he |
has been amazed to find out, when
the old top material is removed, that
the wooden framework underneath
Is badly rotted and must be entirely
rebuilt before new top material can
be installed. After paying for an
expensive repair job, the car owner
may conclude that the cheapest plan
Is to refinish the top at regular in
tervals and make sure that no cracks
develop in either the top material or
at the mouldings around the edge.
"It is not advisable to apply a var
nish type dressing to new top. In
fact, the only type of dressing to use
on new top is top wax If, how
ever, the top material has been ex-
posed for some months and has
grown dull and check marked it in
dicates that the original coat of var
nish-applied when the top material
was made-has become chalked and
4 ti.an Az this cko