Milford chronicle., 1939-08-11
LEGISLATURE
WILL GET AUTO
SAFETY MEASURE
CONTINUED from First Page,

pend drivers licenses for 80 day
on first conviction of exceeding
miles an hour speed.
Suggestions studied at the confer
ence for the safety drive included
Equipping automobiles with COVER
nors to limit their speed, increasing
the speed limit to so or 55 mile
an hour, taking into consideration
the locality; plainly marking dan
gerous locations, placing lights a
dangerous intersections, education o
drivers in safety, giving the word o
a police officer greater credence al
to the condition of driver arrested
for driving while intoxicated rather
than limiting evidence to a doctors
examination; requiring examination
of drivers after third conviction fol
reckless driving before they may OBJ.
tain a new license, and increasing
the state highway police force espe-
cially for highway patrol duty.
Varying Limits Urged
On speed limit, one suggestion was
that 55 miles an hour be allowed on
dual highways with so miles on
other open highways. and that zones
be established according to the con-
dition of the road. Dangerous
stretches, or stretches in densely
populated areas, would have lower
limits, some as low as 20 miles an
hour
A proposal favorably received was
that persons convicted of reckless
driving be given an alternative of
having sealed governors placed on
their automobiles by the police for
one year or suffer the specified per-
iod of license suspension.
The governors mentioned were of
a type attached to the drive shaft
rather than the motor. and allow
speeds greater than the limit for a
short space of time to al1w for
emergencies.
Wells Praises Police
Mr.. Wells declared that there are
no better police in the nation than
Delaware's. but that they are handi-
capped in many respects from doing
their whole duty as police officers.
He mentioned reluctance of physi-
clans to examine drivers arrested for
being drunk.
The commissioner suggested that
among means of discouraging un-
safe driving would be to revoke a
reckless drivers license for 80. so,
OF 30 days. and possibly the regis
tation licenses.
Mr.. Wells also proposed bureau
of investigation to decide upon
speed limit and with power to re-
woke licenses. He suggested also
survey of all roads and the desig-
mating with warning markings all
intersections or other places deter
mined to he hazards.
He stressed the need of an aug
mented police force for traffic duty
Governor Urges Publicity
Greater publicity for violations of
the motor vehicle laws was among
suggestions offered by Governor
Richard C. McMullen, who comment
ed that conferences similar 10 Mon
days should be held from time to
time to check up on evils and make
the populacc safety-conscious.
Suggestion for equippine automo- !
biles with governors came first from |
Superintendent of State Police John |
r. Fader. He also favored black /
and-white cars for state policemen
patroling the roads.
Superintendent Fader. after re-
viewing statistics on arrests. acci-
dents. and fatalities. referred to the
SUCCESS with which Pennsylvania has
met with its stringent 90-day revo-
cation-o ot-licCnse provision
In that state. 4 driver exceeding
so miles an hour is held guilty of
reckless driving and his license is
suspended for 80 days. After third
conviction. the driver finds it diff
cult to get a license again. In Della
ware, driver is deemed guilty of
reckless driving if he exceeds As
miles an hour.
Four Way Lights Proposed
Mr.. Mack suggested that traffic
lights at dangerous intersections
where great caution is required be
lighted on all four sides. He re-
ferred to crossing lights at the Mid
dletown school which continually
fash red so that drivers. no matter
which road they are on, will stop
before crossing.
Placing greater dependence on
police officers in judging the con-
1ition of a driver arrested for driv-
ing while drunk was urged by Su-
Kavanaugh.
Often. the police superintendent
said. a police officer is in a much
better position to tell when a man
s intoxicated than a physician, who
li3likes to appear in court,
Agreeing with the revocation pro-
)osal as the best way to curb reck-
ess drivers. Mayor J. Wallace Wood
ord. of Dover, suggested increasing
he speed limit to so or 55 miles
IN hour Then, he said, many driv-
RS. going little faster than allow
ID but safely. would not regard
themselves as breaking the law and
would facilitate the movement of
rattle in the safe areas. He COM
nented that this would lessen con-
,estion and observed that often the
low driver is the one responsible
or accidents.
Slower Night Speed Urged
A 90-day license revocation for
lrst offense of reckless driving was
by Mr.. Jackson. who
las been president of the safety
ouncil since August 1. Second of
ense would be six months, and third
revocation for a longer per-
Dd, and until the offender has pass
d another driving test. Mr.. jackson {
uggested speed limit of so miles
n the open roads in the day and
ncnni. nnnnd Of ninhf