Evening star., 1941-02-19
Traffic Court Judge
Asks Motorists Help
Make Streets Safer
Medical Tests Urged
To End Guesswork in
Drunk Driving Cases
Staff Photo.

Judge John P Mcmahon inter-
rupted proceedings in Traffic Court
today to appeal to District motorists
Ito try to help make the streets
of Washington safer
He said he saw no reason why the
District should not have "a better
record for safe driving" and re-
minded the crowd in the courtroom
of the recent ruling by the COM
missionerS authorizing revocation
of the driving permit OF any motor
ist found travelling faster than As
miles per hour, even if it was first
offense.
You have been fortunate not to
have killed any one" Judge Nc
Mahon told motorists fined in court
today for excessive speed, adding
that many traffic deaths here were
caused by fast driving.
His warning followed recon-
mepdations by a colleague. Police
Court Judge George D. Nelson, for
the use of medical chemical tests
to eliminate "guesswork' in the
trial of drunken driving cases, and
the adoption of uniform penalties
for all traffic cases wherein the
facts are similar"
Judge Nelson Speaks.
Judge Nelson spoke last night be-
fore the Traffic Committee of the
Junior Board of Commerce at Taft
House Inn. 1903 K street NV. In
discussing the uniform penalty pro-
posal, he said:
Naturally there may be certain
cases in which the court feels justi-
fed in departing from the approved
scale Of penalties, but. by and large,
a uniform system can be applied
with fairness and justice to all, re-
sulting in greater respect for law
and order"
Il urge a declaration of war on
the major traffic offender and call
upon the police, the courts and the
public to enlist unitedly in the cru
sade to remove from our streets the
reckless and drunken driver" he
declared.
Warns of Punishment.
Traffic drives" should be con-
Quoted throughout the year, Judge
Nelson said.
The public must be made to un-
derstand that any disregard for the
rights and safety of others will
bring swift and certain punish
ment.'' he told the committee
Meanwhile, an e1ght-point traffic
program was approved unanimously
by the Advisory Board of the Key
stone Automobile Club at a meeting
at the Mayf1ower Hotel. 1t calls for
Establishment of the so-called
Cafeteria court" for minor traffic
offenders and appointment of a full
time traffic judge.
Greater police enforcement, with
concentration on accident-breeding
violations.
Stricter oral, written, physical and
aptitude tests for drivers
Licensing and rigid testing of all
driving instructors.
Re-eXamlnatlon OF all drivers in
volved in accidents resulting in per-
Sonal injuries.
Would End Reflector Arrows.
improvement to provide greater
safety on important park roads used
as thoroughfares such as Beach
drive between Park road and Blag-
den avenue.
Elimination of the reflector arrows
from streetcar loading platforms eX-
cept where the platforms are op-
posite each other.
Extensive development of plans
for elimination of all traffic bottle
necks and widening of streets in
conformity with engineering studies
The Advisory Board declared the
accident and congestion situation
in Washington demands immedi-
ate, effective and far-reching &C
ton"