Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-10
Speeders the Cause of
City's Traffic Perils
To the Editor OF The Star.

40 tHe EolJor OF Inc btar.
Regarding the campaign beginning
this week for safer driving, 1t occurs
to me that the whole question resolves
itself into one word, speed" Drivers.
male and female. are going at rate
far in excess of the lawful rate and
entirely too fast for car to be under
control, the answer being that sooner
or later, even with good brakes, these
speedsters drive into q smash or
knock down and kill some pedestrian.
A car Is supposed to stop within 40
feet at a rate of 20 miles per hour.
This sounds all right, but how very
few are going at that rate or even
at the legal rate? From the tire marks
on the streets showing where cars have
brakes lock the wheels, 1t Is evident
that the high momentum of the cars
carry them away beyond the 40 feet
mentioned. These tire (skid) marks
are frequently accompanied by glass
and blood, showing that although the
brakes worked there has been a smash
up and a fatality.
The boulevard streets are among the
dangerous highways. The maximum
speed on Thirteenth street is % miles
per hour, yet cars pass ION either
side) Of the Takoma Park express
buses at rate making 1t appear the
latter are standing still. yet the buses
60 from Rittenhouse street and Fifth
to u street and Thirteenth "a distance
of about 48 blocks in IS minutes fat,
so. Just how fast are the passing auto
mobiles going on that street? Incl
dentally. the front gangWays OF these
express buses are damned with pas
sengers. preventing the driver from
seeing to his right at intersections and
jeopardizing himself, his passengers
and any crosstown traf11c he may meet.
1t is evident that the wonderful
pickup" and "superbrakes" now to
be had on automobiles have increased
the traffic hazard, causing many people
to take a chance" instead of driving
in sane and safe manner.
The Live and Let Live" campaign
Is all right in its way. and success is
wished for 1t, but 1t is doubtful whether
any lasting good will come OF it. The
only practical way of reaching the
dangerous driver Is through his pocket
nerve" A good stiff fine land I see
Judge Hit has hiked up the reckless
driving penalty from $40 to 500 i'm
posed on those who will not proceed
at safe speed will do more than all
the speeches, broadcasts and stickers
combined.
This brings up the question as to
who will bring In the speeders and
reckless drivers? To my mind it is
far more important to have traffic
officers land other police get out on
the highways and nab these dangerous
drivers than to have these officers
spend time after he overtime parkers.
A car at the curb. while it may be
violating regulations by overstaying
its time there. is not potential danger,
and for the time being We can we'll
afford to pass them up and 60 after the
reckless speedsters.
Congress has been begged to allow
additional police. but they have not yet
granted them. consequently considera-
ton should be given to securing COM
fNe>AAS - ehAit HOAASC sOIIlC otilSE way.
Are there not a lot OF policemen with
'cushy' jobs at the several precincts,
headquarters. bureaus and District at
torney's Office who can be replaced
with capable civilian clerks. thereby
releasing sworn officers to help make
the streets safe? This did net come I'D
before the Crime Commission. but II
should have, as these men we're hired
to police the city, not 10 hold down
desks. II they cannot be pried loose
from their desks. how about a public
subscription to hire more police (not
desk mem, or add so cents TO the tag
tax and raise the'required sum? We
have Just got to have something more
effective than some pledges" and
appeals to reason" There is little
reason in nut" at a steering wheel.
OVERTON c. LUXFORD.