Evening star., 1935-11-10
HORSEPOWER CUT
URGEDFOR SAFETY
Many Writers to Star Coun-
ell Would Make Reduc-
ton Compulsory.

Reduction Of automobile engine
horsepower or compulsory installation
of governors to hold speeds within
safe limits has been suggested by
many writer's to The Star Safety
Council as q means OF reducing the
trafic accident toll.
One Of the many letters. typical Of
those dealing with this phase Of the
automobile situation. is from ]. F.
Oertel Of Vienna, Va, who says, in
part:
THE safety campaign The Star is
conducting Is move in the right
direction, as every one agrees that
something should-yes, must-be done
to check the killing and manning Of
thousands OF individuals each year.
However, as it appears to me. the
main point at issue is practically over
looked. There is but one answer to
the question - speed and unless
something is done to prohibit excess
sive horsepower in engines, and con-
sequent increase in speed all the rules
and pledges will be of no avail.
You exact a promise not to drive
at reckless speed Who is to be the
judge of this? The individual. OF
course. and while one man may be
content to limit his speed to. say 40
miles an hour, which should be fast
enough, another will contend Gas I've
heard them do) that 10 is perfectly
safe. even safer than gong slowly.
AN auto standing still will never
injure any one, but for every added
mile per hour the danger increases,
Daily thousands flirt with death;
daily thousands pay the penalty OF
the toll demanded by the demon
speed.
II speak feelingly; four Of my
friends are under the ground, victims
of the auto; three are hopeless Grip
piles!
Where Is it to end?"
Excerpts from some of the hun
dreds of other letters received by The
Star Council dealing with various
phases of the traffic and safety prob
lens follow:
IT have crossed at Thomas Circle
from Massachusetts, avenue to M
street; it is nothing unusual to see
four motorists and sometimes more
pass red lights going east. A pedes'
trian has not a chance. I have
crossed there for years. It is pathetic
to see elderly people or cripples OF
mothers with babies try to cross
Massachusetts, avenue into M street al
any time. I hope something can be
done to protect the pedestrians"
MRS. M. NJ. BOND.
1T think the pedestrians should be
made to obey lights at corners con-
trolled by this system as well as mo-
torists. This should apply also at
corners controlled by an officer. There
is nothing more aggravating in driv-
ing in traffic than to get green light
and have flock Of people step out
in front of you to tie up the string
of cars behind you. I grant you the
pedestrian has the right of way. but
they have as much time to wait as a
motorist. HANSON G. CASHELL."
derful idea.
"Our fraternity has conducted a
campaign among the members by is
suing pamphlets, letters and having
a reflector made with the fraternity
coat of arms embellished. The re-
fector illuminates when light shines
on it and takes the place of the rear
light if it should happen to go out.
These and other measures are few
>f triad
District of Columbia Beta of the
Phi Delta Kappa is the Eastern out
post for about 5000 members in
100 chapters throughout the country.
Your safety plan was discussed at our
last meeting and as benefit to our
selves and the public it was decided
to join in body.
"AUGUST r. TERNEAK,
"President, District of Columbia
Beta, Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity"
1T gives me great pleasure to sign
your driving pledge and will do my
best to live up to it.
"J. G. HOLMES"
my idea is that traffic lights should
be placed IN the middle OF the plocK
instead of at the intersections and
the crosswalks should be in the middle
of the block, thereby allowing pedes-
trian traffic to obey signals the same
as automobiles. I believe this could
be done. GEORGE F. RITTER"
Dangers to traffic:
Binding lights.
Cutting corners in making a left
turn.
"Crowding through cars in making
q left turn.
Double parking. even when park
ing space is available.
Cutting in and out of trafic.
Pulling away from curb without
signal.
Pulling away from curb and
breaking traffic.
jumping traffic lights.
Driving 50 there is no room to pass
on left.