Evening star., 1935-07-28

Director of Vehicles and Traf1c, District
of Columbia.
TN 1914 there we're 1,754,570 au-
tomobileS registered in the United
States, In 1884 there were 2l,-
Il 524,O68 registered, thus showing
an increase of 1,125 per cent.
In 1914 there we're 257 ,291 miles of
surfaced road in the United States.
In 1884 there we're $4,000 miles of
improved road-an increase of 270
per cent.
In other words, there were in 1914
6.84 automobiles per mile of improved
road. while in 1884 there were 22.65
automobiles per mile. During this
same period in the District there has
been an increase in automobile regis
tration from 5000 in 1914 to 185, 1872
in 1884.
In 1914 there was not more than
one driver for each car registered.
In 1884 there were at least 10000
900 operators of automobiles in the
United States.
District First With Permits.
1t must be remembered that ex-
cept in the District operators per-
mits were not issued by any State
until about 1908. Rhode Island was
the first State to pass a modern
drivers license law. requiring a per-
nit. New Hampshire followed, in
1909 Connecticut in 1915 and Mary
land in 1919.
In a great many Of the States those
who we're then operating automobiles
were blanketed in as drivers without
any kind of examination or test. At
the present time there are only 10
States which have an operators per-
NIT with examination, and in some
of these States the operators permit
is good until revoked. In other words.
these drivers may continue to operate
a motor vehicle, even if they have
physical defects, as long as they are
not involved in an accident on ac-
count of which the permit would be
suspended or revoked.
While there was general increase
in traffic accidents throughout the
country last year, States which have
operators permits, where examina-
ton is required, showed a smaller in
crease in accidents and fatalities than
those States which do not have
drivers license laws.
Auto Engineering Advances.
During the 2O-year period above re-
ferred to the automotive engineer has
made rapid strides in improving the
design of the motor vehicle. The first
notable developments by the automo-
tive engineer was the electrical head
light and the self-starter. These were
soon followed by balloon tires, four
wheel brakes, non-Shatterable glass,
steel frames and bodies. Then came
the bumper, front and back. While
this has proven to be safety factor,
it is also one thing which has re-
suited In some rather fiagrant vio-
lations Of the parking regulations.
While the automotive. engineer has
been building safety into the automo-
bile, he has also increased the horse
power and the possibility for greater
speed. This increased horsepower
and speed possibility have created a
desire on the part of many drivers to
speed. This horsepower and increased
speed possibility are, in the hands Of
a skillful, careful driver, real safety
factor. but in the hands of a care
less. negligent, reckless or willful driv-
er become a potential menace. The
careful driver knows how to control
his speed and how to get out Of
tight pinch by stepping on the gas,
but the reckless or careless driver Is
likely to get into trouble when he
steps on the gas because of his lack
of skill and ability to handle car at
high speed in an emergency.
Speed Advertising Scored.
The automobile manufacturer and
salesman can well devote his entire
time when selling car to the i'm
proved mechanical and safety factors
of the car and to the new features