The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-02-12

More strict examinations for ap-
plicants for operators licenses, re-
examination of certain drivers and
closer supervision Of young drivers
as well as special board to REIN
state suspended licenses are mat
) tiers upon which definite recommen-
datiohs were made in the report OF
i the commission on street and high
way safety submitted yesterday to
Governor Wilbur L. Cross.
"The commission recommends, :"
the report reads. "the creations OF a
esial board in which should be
vested the power to reinstate Ii
censes suspended for a period be-
You'd a certain time.
"In almost all phases Of your
commissions investigation and
study, the matter of disciplinary
control through operators licenses
has had to be considered" the re-
port to the governor states. Few
proposed solutions and remedies
have been offered for correction OF
bad driving practices which did not
have more strict license regula-
ton as q background.
.'From all of the information OBJ
tanned from many sources, 1t seems
apparent that a certain class Of OPP
orators is much more concerned
with the privileges obtained
through the license granted by the
state than with the responsibilities
its possession puts upon the opera
tor when he takes his car upon the
highway.
: This same class of operators, too,
appears to be less concerned about
the penalties which may be I'M
posed by court in the way Of fines,
and even Jail sentences. than with
the possibility Of losing their licenses
to drive for an extended period.
'The right to drive is a privilege
widely and eagerly sought. Nearly
a third Of the states population has
: been licensed to operate motor We
hicles. It seems to your commits
sion that every person who applies
for a license should have full kI1owl-
edge of the responsibilities he must
assume when granted the license.
!, "A majority Of Connecticut oper-
ators are conscious Of these re.
sponsibilities and have proved their
awareness by driving accordingly,
but q number, unfortunately far too
large, fail in this duty or willfully
neglect 1t.
SIT Is with this type of operator
in mind that the commission rec
ommends special and more extended
case hearings and investigation be-
fore licenses are returned after
suspension for q major offense
against the motor vehicle laws or
the rules Of good driving practice.
1.-THE special board for this pur-
pose. as recommended, might also
in some measure relieve the COM
missioner of motor vehicles Of part
. of the administrative burden and
/. the great responsibility now resting
I upou him In the duty, fixed by stat
.s'ute, which he has not only Of sus-
pending licenses but Of consider
. ing all cases Of reinstatement and
return Of license.
"Further, 1t is believed that such
a plan would lend itself to firmness
and impartiality, inasmuch as the
procedure under such board would
be similar to that In court and
serve as a direct educational means
for stressing the importance Of good
driving.
"A majority Of the people Of the
state now insist that something be
done to minimize the serious results
sof accidents. It is quite evident
that the public is willing that the
freedom Of individual performance
be ctlrbed, If such action is neceS-
sary In the interests Of safety"
TO this end the commission makes
four recommendation In addition
to its declaration favoring spe-
cial board to examine applicants for
Reinstatement OF suspended IL
censes.
Although Connecticut stands high
in the requirements for exatnif1a-
rtion for operators licenses, safety
would be further advanced II pro-
vision were made for even more ef-
ficient and rigid examinations Of
applicants applying for operators
licenses for the first time" the COM
mission declares.
Greater safety would be promot-
ed by q re-examinat ton Of all OPP
orators whose record shows seri-
Gus accident or conviction for q
NOTICE
49, a~k>