Evening star., 1939-12-03

ment Of motor vehicles and traffic
under a traffic authority and to
divide the work into two main
divisions, one dealing with State
functions, such as titles, registra-
tionss, licenses, permits, ETC., and
the other dealing with municipal
functions, such as traffic engineer
ing, including studies of traffic con-
ditions, the making of regulations,
the installation Of signals, signs and
markings.
The Department of Vehicles and
Traffic is primarily safety depart
ment. All of the functions now
proposed to be transferred relate to
automobile and pedestrian safety,
except the issuance of Identification
tags, the object of which is pri-
marily intended to identify the
vehicle for enforcement purposes.
After years of effort Congress
authorized the Commissioners to
establish motor vehicle safety in
spection stations for the inspection
of brakes, headlights, steering, etc.
There is close and definite rela-
ton between the issuance of tags
and mechanical inspection of motor
vehicles. The coupon which is sent
out to the motor vehicle owner re-
questing him to bring a particular
car in at a specified date is a part
of the application for tags. This
necessarily calls for an interchange
of records on change of address,
motor vehicle inspection and the nu-
merical file of the tag record sec.
ton. When the mechanical inspec-
ton Is made, there also is Q check
made on the engine number to see if
it corresponds with the number on
the title or notarized bill of sale.
This also is check on stolen cars.
Tc separate the work of the in
spectiOn Of motor vehicles from the
registration and titling work would
be mistake from a safety as we'll
as from an administrative stand
point.
All applicants for operators per-
mits are examined for vision, color
blindness, depth of perception,
knowledge Of the traffic regulations
and ability to drive safely. For this
purpose they must pass a written
examination on the regulations and
must demonstrate on the street their
ability to drive a car in traffic. These
permits must be renewed every
three years.
From the records of all drivers
research studies are made. These
studies include the relation of re-
action time to accidents, age groups,
accident-prone drivers, etc.
1t is obvious that the department
Of licenses would not take the same
interest in the issuance of drivers
permits and a checkup on their
record as the Department of We
hicles and Traffic. whose chief func-
ton is the safe operation of motor
vehicles.
The present board having to do
with the suspension and revocation
OF operators permits is composed of
a representative from the corpora
ton counsels Office and two repre-
sentatives from the Department of
Vehicles and Traffic. This board
has authority to suspend or revoke
permits for any cause deemed suf-
flcient. The causes which may re-
suit in action by this board are
usually excessive or repeated Of
fences of speed, reckless driving
leaving after colliding and acciden,
record involving traffic violations.
Whether the work of a simila,
board set up by the department Of
licenses would be as effective from
safety standpoint as this present
arrangement is doubtful. BY elimi-
mating unsafe drivers from the
streets large contribution toward
street and highway safety is now
being made by this board.
The Traffic Department, in CO.
operation with the Hack Inspector
Office of the Police Department and
the License Bureau of the District
government, has charge of the is
suance of all licenses to operate
public vehicles. The department
also has a representative on the
board which acts in an advisory ca
pacity to the Commissioners on the
revocation and suspension of hcen-
ses to operate public vehicles.
Before hackers licenses are is
sued there is a check-up on the ap.
plicant's character and his police
and traffic record An examination
is also made of his physical condi-