Evening star., 1937-09-11

~ ANGER turks behind every
lamp post, at intersections
and even around parked
- automobiles for the man who
has the thankless job of testing appli-
cants for drivers permits.
So hazardous is his job, it was
disclosed today, that insurance COM
panies have rated him as serious
risk" compelling him to pay the
same premiums as an aviator.
Much has been written in sympathy
for the nervous applicant, but little
has been said about the courageous
traffic officials who daily gamble with
their lives or limbs to determine an
applicants fitness to operate a motor
vehicle.
And it is just plain nervousness
and lack of confidence that cause
most of the troubles for applicants
and their examiners, according to
Thomas E. West and Roy R. Schlem-
mer, Washington's fearless driving
permit testers.
West and Schlemmer are the ones
who really decide the ultimate fate
of an applicant for drivers permit.
It's their job, after the applicant
has passed the routine eye test and
the quiz on traffic regulations to
conduct the final and most i'm
portant examination-to observe the
driver in action in traffic.
Fate Has Been Kind.
Fifty or more times a day, West
and Scnlemmer jeopardize their
necks riding around with a nervous
and excited applicant for drivers
permit. But fate has been kind to
them. Each has done the same
thing for about six years and aside
from wrenched back and a mis-
placed knee cap, neither has suf-
fered serious injury. The escapes,
however, have been numerous and
sometimes miraculous
On the average, about one out
of every four applicants who take
the so-called road test" fails the
first time.
For instance, only the other day,
an applicant, with West in the rear
seat, started car away from the
curb with leap, and before the
instructor could stop it, the machine
had plowed into another one parked
at the opposite curb. And not so
many weeks ago. West probably had
his narrowest escape from serious
injury when new driver bolted his
car at a red light at Fourth and
E streets, and failed to stop until
the machine ran onto the sidewalk
within few inches of the iron fence
around the Trinity Lutheran Church.
Several years ago, however, West
was riding with an applicant who
had nearly completed the test salts
factorily, when he suddenly lost con-
troll of the car and it crashed into
parked car, tearing off a running
board, two tenders and door. The
drivers nervousness cost him $3.50
when the repair bill was paid.
But costly accidents like that one
are few, although the fender straight
ening shops have done good busi-
ness as result of crashes along
the road test course, which, Incl
dentally, runs from John Marshall
place and G street to D street, to
Fourth street, to E street, to Third
street, to c street back to the start
ing point.
Course Regarded Ideal.
I'ra fflc officials rauord tl,,t oo,,reo
ideal for testing drivers ability, since
it offers nearly every hazard and traffic
problem an average driver would want.
IL mas stop signs, lights, traffic con-
gestion and grade where the driver
must demonstrate his ability to stop
and start without drifting backward.
Typical of the cases which cause an
applicant to fail on a driving test is
one observed by Star reporter. who
with the permission of Traffic Direc-
tor Van Duzer) rode with West on
half-dozen examination trips.
One Of the applicants was IT.
year-old girl, who had applied for a
Juvenile permit to drive the family
car. Her father, serving as instructor.
ooS NNSANS &ASA al Wiz 1lOlit SCdLs
The girl at the outset had all the
confidence of an expert at the wheel.
She gave the proper hand signal and
pulled away from the curb without a
| jolt. She brought the car to a COM
plete stop at stop sign and signaled
for a turn in accordance with regula-
tions. On the John Marshall place
grade she stopped and started the car
uphill like veteran driver. At Fourth
and streets West told her to make q
right turn at the traffic light and she
| made the turn against a red signal. It
was her only mistake; her only viola
| ton. Fortunately there was no cross
traffic.
Back at the starting point, West
asked the girl what mistake she had
| made.
Il don't know" she replied ner-
vously.
ASK your father" said West.
You passed a red light" volun-
teered the father.
I'm sorry, but I can't approve this
application" West announced. Come
back in three days and try it over
again.
And that's what % per cent of all
| applicants do-come back again in
three days and go through another
road test. The second time about 90
per cent pass and are given permit
But some of the remaining 10 per cent
return three, four, five and six times
Failure on the sixth trial means abso-
lutte refusal Of permit.
West and Schlemmer are more strict
that they've ever been in passing on
applicants for driving permits in view
| Of the marked increase in Washing
toms traf4c accident record.