Evening star., 1942-09-13
The Travellers Notebook
Motoring Vocotionists Hove Reason for Optimism,
In Rubber Report, With No CuroiIment Likely
For Present Quota Of RecreotionoI Drivinq


Data on this phase of the pro.
gram-the only factor apparent thai
might threaten curtailment Of vaca.
ton driving-are now being studied
by Government ofiicials concerned
with national rationing. 1t Is safe
to predict, however, that with en-
forced conservation, Of tires extended
to the ration-free Midwest, Eastern
motorists need not surrender a pint
of gasoline that now may be ex-
pended for non-occupational driv-
| ing under the Atlantic seaboard's
rigid system.
Leaving the technical phases OF
the report to the Government
chemical and production experts
the program of interest to car own
ers boils down to this viewpoint
summarization contained In the
report:
/. A reduction of the average
mileage to a total not to exceed
5000 miles per year by Nation wide
rationing of gasoline.
2. Enlargement of the present tire
replacement program to provide suf-
nclent recaps and new tires for the
maintenance of this minimum of
essential driving, and to prolong to
the utmost the useful life OF tires
now on the road.
8. Prompt and strict enforcement
OF Nationwide speed limit not
exceeding maximum of IS miles
per hour for all passenger cars and
trucks. Voluntary reduction to 80
miles will give substantially further
mileage.
4. Compulsory periodic tire in
spection.
5. An interim program OF volun-
tary tire conservation until the
rationing and inspection programs
can be put into operation.
Since the present gas rationinp
went into effect the latter part of
July, there have been two classes of
vacation drivers-those with no oc-
cupational driving problems who
could use their entire A book of 1872
gallons year as they pleased, DO
Iced only by the reaction OF their
conscience to appeals not to waste
precious tires, and supplemental
book holders who, In the theoretical
operation Of the rationing system
could have only 1000 miles a year
In six installments-for at-will
driving
The fastener has little reason to
doubt that unrestricted automobile
driving in the Middlewest is chiefly
responsible for pulling the Nations
yearly driving average up to the
600 miles mentioned in the report
as prevailing.
Imposition Of the East's present
rationing system on this vast
white" area probably would set the
average Of 5000 miles a year pro-
posed in the report. Should figures
prove this to be the case, the East
ern motorist has cause to believe
that his present driving-both high
necessity and incidental mileage
will not be cut.
Beyond this, the report holds out
the hope that production of tires
and recaps from synthetic rubbers
may begin to relieve the. situation
IN lS43, permitting cars that now
have thin castings to join those that
now have from 1000 to 1880 miles
year Tor non-occupational travel
Due to the production facilities
urged in the report, gasoline ration
ing might be liberalized in the late
summer of next year. But If yaca- :
tions survive other CONTINGENCIES of
the war, motorists should not ex-
pect their recreational driving allot-
ment to be increased to any ap-
preciable extent. In other words.
the automobile vacation pattern of
1913 for Washington residents likely
will repeat that of this summer
"one spot" resorts within 480 miles
OF the Capital.
For the vacation family that de-
sires to use its car of civilian fur
loughs, the report is reassurinp on
two points: one, that rationing not
be carried beyond actual necessity;
two, no suggestion that vacation
travel be classed as non-essential.
Basing its stand on the rationing
program only on assuring victory,
the Baruch report said: THE COM
mlttee does not believe in the doc
trine OF sacrifice for sacrifices sake"
The second encouraging factor
was an apparent refusal to state a
principle that would ban motor vaca-
tons. The report did say that the
5,0O0-mile average would be for
necessary" driving. 1t did not at
tempt to define the word.
To call on the American public to
forego relaxation of war tension in
trips away from home would have
introduced theory that has been
avoided studiously by high Govern
ment of1cials, including the Presi-
dent. Indeed, cabinet officers and
others. knowing the pace and pres
sure imposed on the public by the
victory effort, have come out openly
for vacation enjoyment as a means
OF maintaining physical well-being
and morale.