Evening star., 1941-01-02
1910 Saw New Steps
To Increase Safety on
Maryland Highways
Bill for Stote Owned
: And Operated Inspection
Stations in Prospect
This is one Of series of stories
summing up Developments in 1910
in pariouS Maryland state depart
meuts and fields OF .dctiDit4.,
By w. LEE ELGIN,
Maryland Motor Vehicles Commissioner.

Maryland Motor Vehicles Commissioner.
written for the Associated Press)
BALTIMORE, Jan. 2-Steps to
achieve greater safety ON Maryland
highways were taken by the De-
partment of Motor Vehicles in 1910,
and at least two other measures
one for State-oWned and operated
inspection stationS-will be pre-
sented to the current legislative
session.
Through numerous complaints
from Maryland motor vehicle owners
who had received tax bills on cars
which had been sold. assigned or
junked, the idea of adding a strip
to the motor vehicle title was de-
vised, perforated to be torn off and
forwarded to this department when
the car changed hands.
Upon receipt of these strips, the
various tax collectors Immediately
know the motor vehicle is no longer
titled in that particular owners
name. We are confident that this
new system will relieve the owners
of confusion of tax records and un-
necessary inconvenience and trouble
Eye Test Established.
Effective January l, all motorists
summoned to appear for hearings
to show cause why their driving
license should not be suspended or
revoked as a result of a. conviction
of the motor vehicle laws, were made
subject to thorough eye test.
And motorist found to need glasses
is suspended until proper glasses are
obtained. In such cases, driving
licenses are marked with the re-
striction stamp TO operate when
wearing glasses only" In hearings
al Baltimore last week, three persons
not being able TO explain why their
accidents had occurred were found
to have defective vision and to be
badly in need of glasses.
Applicants who fail in their driv-
ing tests for licenses are not per-
mitted TO take a re-eXamination for
five days. This new ruling was put
into effect because most of the ap-
plicants who failed were not ade-
quately trained and acquainted with
the principles of safe driving.
Stricter Driving Tests.
Due to the increased accident toll.
need was felt for stricter tests for
new drivers.
New drivers are required to wait
IS days, instead of five, before TAX
ing their test for final licenses.
A bill will be presented to the
Legislature for establishment of
State owned and operated motor
vehicle inspection stations.
The sole purpose is a highway
safety. 1t is just as important to
have safe motor vehicles as safe
drivers. If Maryland citizens could
see how successfully this plan is
working in other States, particu-
larly New Jersey, and the splendid
results achieved, this law would be
welcome
An outstanding . accomplishment
in New Jersey is. the reduction of
80 per cent or 426 fatal accidents
on the highways during the first
year the inspection law was in ef-
feet. The public further benefited
by having substantial reduction in
insurance premiums.
Protects Public and Property.
Putting old cars in good mechani-
cal condition. or eliminating them
entirely, protects the new car
owner and the public. The public
would further benefit in savings or
repairs often unnecessarily recon-
mended Also, car owners could use
these stations as often as they
wished to ascertain what, if any,
repairs are necessary.
It, is recommended that motor
vehicle owners be compelled to have
their cars checked twice yearly, at
a charge of, so cents each inspection.
This bill is not revenue measure.
Money collected would, be used to
purchase, maintain and operate in
spection stations. New Jersey will
reduce cost Of these inspections next
year practically one-third, since
there has been a surplus from fees
after the original equipment was
paid for. The same procedure would
be followed in Maryland.
A bill also will be presented au-
thorizing issuance of permanent III
cense tags to motor vehicle owners
After the master plate had been
issued,'a date insert would be issued
for subsequent years upon applica-
tion for renewal