Evening star., 1937-03-30
ADVOCATE AUTO
INSPECTION LAW
Com issio ners Indorse
Semi-AnnuaI Check in
Traffic Reform Plan.

oIIIo tlNIOI III ! Iolls
Enactment Of the bill requiring
semi-annual Mechanical inspection of
all motor vehicles in the District was
urged on Congress yesterday by the
Commissioners in report on long
list of proposals for improving trafic
and safety conditions.
Belief that the plan would bring
about substantial reduction in fatali-
ties and accidents was voiced by the
Commissioners.
While submitting estimates Of the
cost OF many trafic engineering plans
considered at the past session by the
House District Subcommittee headed
by former Representative Randolph
Carpenter, Democrat, Of Kansas, the
city heads stated:
That prohibitions against left-hand
turns will be extended to additional
streets as fast as surveys can be COM
pleted.
More One-way Streets.
That additional arteries would be
designated as one-Way streets, as
suggested by the Carpenter Subcom-
mittee.
That later reports would be sub
mitted dealing with the proposed
adoption Of a skip-stop system for
street cars and busses, the proposed
limitation Of the number Of taxicabs
and on the establishment Of addi-
tional Fairgrounds as means Of
keeping children from playing in the
streets
1t was progress report primarily
and dealt mostly with estimates Of the
cost of the wide range Of traffic en-
gineering plans which had been con-
sidered by the Carpenter Committee.
The cost Of all suggestions, 1t was
found, would be in excess of 10000
900 in the proposed fve-year program.
There were recent reports that the
1888 District budget would contain
$50, 900 for the preparation Of de-
tail plans for the proposed K street
viaduct as traffic bypass for
Georgetown, for street car subway
for Dupont Circle, for the revampiT~
of both Scott and Thomas Cir
and other projects.
The commissioners said they felt
there was opportunity for material
improvement Of the traffic situation
through adoption OF suggested
changes.
Discussing the recommendation
that Congress provide for an increase
of at least 10 per cent in the person
mel Of the police department, and
that the size Of the motorcycle force
be raised to 100, the commissioners
said:
An effort has been made by the
police department and the commits
sioners for additional funds to in
crease the personnel Of the department
to the number recommended by the
committee, but so far there has been
no additional appropriation"
Touch on Enforcement.
With respect to a recommended
that enforcement and judicial of
GERS continue to bring about q re-
duction in accidents By a vigorou
policy of certain punishment" l.
cases of speeding, reckless driving and
other serious violations. the report
said:
Recommendation of the commit
tee is being carried out insofar as
the police department is concerned,
as Maj. Brown states that 75,1T4
traffic arrests were made in 1885, and
88,404 in 1896, which shows an in
crease of 1920.
On the recommendation that the
Board of Revocation and Suspension
continue its policy of suspending per-
mitS in speeding cases and extend
that policy to include other serious
violations, the commissioners COM
mented:
During the last fiscal year, 2,255
permits were revoked or suspended
for speed-588 permits were revoked
for driving while intoxicated-159
permits were revoked or suspended
for reckless driving and 81 for leaving
after collidtng, without making
identity known"
With respect to the committees
recommendation for regulation of
pedestrians, especially at those points
where they are given protection by
traffic lights or traffic officers, the
Commissioners said:
Nothing has been done with ref
erence to pedestrian regulation, but
two intersections. namely Thirteenth
and F and Twelfth and F, have been
so signalized as to give pedestrians
complete protection"
The Commissioners saio that the
further staggering of hours in the
Government departments, as recon-
mended by the committee, has been
studied by the Public Utilities Com
mission, the Park and Planning Com
mission, the Capital Transit Co. and
the Department of Vehicles and
Traffic. 1t was felt it would not be
advisable further to stagger the hours
until additional information has been
received
The Commissioners said they rec
commended to the Board of Education
that the opening and closing hours
Of the public schools be changed to
decrease the peak-hour traffic and to
reduce accident hazards tc children,
but the Board Of Education had v.ted
not to make any change.