Evening star., 1941-02-07
Motorists CIussed
In Three Groups
Student of Traffic Problems
Discusses Suggestions
For Sufety
To the Editor OF The Star:

For Sofety
To the Editor OF The Star:
Because of the tragic traffic toll in
January, various schemes are being ad-
vocated as remedial measures. One
recommended in last Sundays Star was
to reduce the speed limit from 25 to the
former % miles an hour. With the vast
improvement in braking systems there is
undoubtedly less hazard in traffic speed
of Is miles an hour today than formerly
prevailed at % miles an hour with less
adequate brakes. Does an analysis of
any of the accidents resulting In death
IN the past 13 months indicate that a
reduction in speed of three miles an
hour would have prevented or minimized
the result to any practical extent? Is
not RECKLESS driving" the greatest factor
in these serious accidents? Not infre-
quently miles per hour is a reckless
speed while on the other hand, IS miles
per hour can be, under favorable con-
ditions, safe speed.
Another suggestion in last Sundays
Star is that drivers permits should con-
tain photograph of the person licensed
to drive and this evidently was prompted
by the inability of the traffic department
to prevent illegal means of securing
permits Are all honest people who Sc
cure a license to be disconnected to
assist officials in enforcement? Could
not the punishment be sufficiently severe
to discourage this practice? And how
many other Jurisdictions require photo
graphs on drivers permits?
Yet another suggestion is that upon
renewal Of drivers permits every three
years the driver be given road test.
Why should that great group of acci-
dent-free drivers be so disconnected
for no practical purpose? Capt. Milton
D. Smith has card index on all drivers
with D. C. permits and record of ar
rests for traffic violations. Could not
these cards be consulted and a re-
examination limited to those drivers
whose cards indicated the need? The
article states that there are three road
test examiners now and that they can
devote but four or five minutes at the
most to such tests. The recommended
average was stated as IL minutes. It
was also stated that with three additional
road test men the 12-minutes test could
be given and the force also could re
examine all other drivers when their
permits come up for renewal" Simple
mathematics indicate that to re-examine
all drivers every three years would in
crease the annual load 1913 per cent and
II the force is then increased from three
to six men the time devoted to road
tests would not be increased from or
minutes to II minutes but to 6 or rs
minutes. Limiting denominations to
those whose records disclose the need
would increase the time available for
road tests If the force is augmented.
There are three classes of drivers: Cd
That fine group who recognize their
duty to society, who recognize the po-
tential danger high-powered car con-
stitutes, who have developed safe driving
habits and who, for an extended period,
have an accident-free record. The
officials need have no concern regarding
this group; CD The second group,
through lack of appreciation Of the
lethal potentiality of the automobile are
not alert to hazards, which a matter Of
unfortunate timing converts into acci-
dents. This group needs education. in
convenience and mild punishment to ad-
vance them to the first group. Traffic
spotters, suspension of permit for a week
or longer, or fines should be effective;
90 The third group covers those who
have a reckless disregard d the high
way rights of others or those who are
mentally, tempermentally or physically
unfit to drive. Traffic spoilers and
police should make every effort to call
such drivers to the attention of officials
who could punish them before they in
jure others. Those whose records in
dicate they are unfit to drive should
have their permits revoked.
That we need more traffic police is
ton of those we now have is likewise
evident. Admitting that our present
force is inadequate to cover the city and
enforce all the traffic rules and regula-
tions, then 1t would seem highly desir-
able that they concentrate on those
regulations that are designed to prevent
injury to persons and damage to property
and, as a reader suggested a few days
ago, concentrate on various heavily
travelled routes and shift this flying
squadron so that the element of sur
prise, or probable surprise, will cause the
incautious to be cautious in anticipation.
SAFE DRIVER.