Evening star., 1935-10-27
PROBE Of DRIVERS
MENTALITY URGED
DR.. Rutland, Health Officer,
Would Have CompuI-
sorry Test.

Since most highway accidents are
due to the human element rather
than to mechanical factors, the only
remedy society has against trafic
hazards is to make requirements for
drivers licenses more rigid, in the
opinion of DR.. George c. Rutland,
District health officer.
In a letter to The Star. in which
he commends the campaign of The
Star Safety Council to improve traf1c
conditions, DR.. Rutland said: II
have long felt very strongly upon this
subject"
Outlines Reasons.
He sent with his letter a series of
short quotations from radio speeches
which he has made on the traffic
problem, some of which follow:
"The majority of motor accidents
arise from lack of judgment, lack of
courtesy, the attitude characterized
by tire term road hog'-all Of which,
in terms of psychology, means that
the persons in question are emotionally
defective"
y r Il
I'm view OF the seriousness Of the
highway accident problem it does not
seem unreasonable to insist upon an
official examination of new license
applicants. These examina-
tions should determine not only physi-
cal fitness, but, above all, the mental
soundness and the emotional stability
Of the candidate"
+ Il +
Physical examinations can dis
cover the cases of partial blindness,
impaired vision, beginning paresis, the
half-wit who never can act with ma
ture judgment and many other dis
qualifications which are responsible
for large number of accidents.
ut is high time that a certificate
of physical and mental soundness be
required of all who desire to operate
motor vehicles. Such an ex-
animation should be made compul-
sorry"
The letter from DR.. Rutland is one
Of hundreds received by The Star
Council dealing with various phases
of the traffic problem in Washington.
Other Comment.
Excerpts from some of these letters
follow:
"The suggestion for a gong in con-
nection with safety signals Is well
worth consideration-mayb 1t will
help the poor pedestrian.
Something ought to be done at
Twelfth street and Constitution ave-
nue., the scene of so many fatal and
near-fatal accidents. Traffic moves
on half the street with the red light
and the person who can cross on foot
in slfety in less than five minutes
may count himself fortunate. Surely,
this is one place that should have a
traffic policeman in the morning rush
hours. If the claim is made that they
are short of policemen, let the Police
Department take away one of the two
men who do duty In the morning at
Ninth and C streets southwest.
"You are doing fine piece of work
keep 1t up!
SYLVIA WILES."
II agree with Mr.. Thompson in his
letter Of October IS, as far as he goes.
He says those who walk have no
rights, and I add that those who own
houses have no rights. I drive and I
also Use the street car and walk I
find it just as he says about crossing
a street. Now, about the property
owners. Why should property owner
have some ones car parked in front
Of his house all night or all day? l
have friends who own their house, but
do not own a car. Can I park in
front of their house when I call? In
deed, cannot-just once did I find
the space vacant all last year.
Hits Street Garages.
''It is quite time that auto owners