Evening star., 1946-10-22
D. {. Tighfens Check
On Physical Fitness
OF Driver Applicants

Stricter health requirements must
be met by District applicants for
drivers permits under new policy
inaugurated today by the Depart
ment of Vehicle and Traffic.
New application cards, which must
be notarized, for the first time, ask
specific questions about fainting or
dizzy spells, headaches, strokes or
paralysis, nervous breakdown, use of
insulin and alcohol.
Traffic Director George E. Keneipp
told the District Traffic Advisory
Board last night that the new cards
would be sent out today. Peach
colored forms will be used for re-
newals and blue ones for new ap-
plications.
Warn Against Fake Statements.
The cards bear the warning that
failure to tell the truth may result
in the permit being revoked.
Space also Is provided for doc
tors certifcation of the applicants
physical fitness, but need not be
filled out unless requested by the
traffic director.
The new questions take the place
of one specific and another general
query which appeared on license
application cards until today. The
old form asked if the applicant had
ever had an epileptic attack or suf-
fered from "any other physical de-
fects." Space was provided for
elaboration, but notarization was not
required.
Questions which reappear con-
Germ suspension or revocation of a
drivers permit and eyesight.
Committee Reports Approval.
The Advisory Boards meeting last
night approved number of COM
mittee reports bearing on major
traffic ills in the Capital.
First, however, it voted to ask the
Commissioners to change existing
regulations on traffic hand signals
to new simplified signals approved
in unified traffic codes worked out
on national basis.
The new signals are:
Arm extended upward-right turn;
arm extended straight OUTLET
turn, and arm extended downward
slowing or stop. The new regula-
ton would require these signals to
be shown for 100 feet continuously
before turn is made.
Ask Formula on Parking Meters.
The board approved the following
recommendation of its committees:
/. A formula should be found for
apportioning parking meters on
statistical basis SO that competing
neighborhoods would not feel they
were sighted if meters are put else
where first.
2. A single special license should
be issued operators of other than
passenger vehicles.
3. Psycho-physical examinations
should be given drivers with bad
records.
= 4. Addition of three examiners
over the three extra already asked
in the department budget.
ok6C Va AyS SSSSs
5. The possibility of requiring eye
examinations at six-year periods
for all drivers should be explored;
likewise that of requiring doctors to.
report all epilepsy cases conflden-
TALLY to the traffic director so that a
cross check may be made.
6. Consultants from the American
Association of Motor Vehicle Ad-
ministrators should be called in to
help Washington.
7. Drivers of non-District cars
parked excessively in the District
should be made to report at in
spection stations within seven days
Plans of the boards Committee on
Education and public education for
a publicity drive to make the Dis
trict traffic conscious were approved.
Drive to Start October rs.
The drive is to start October %
with a contest for traffic slogans.
Mr.. Keneipp reported to the board
that since police started their drive
To force out-of-town motorists to
register their cars in the District,
inspections and registration requests
have jumped. Inspector Arthur E.
Miller of the police traffic division
said 1000 cars had received tickets
so far. Mr.. Keneipp said 124 cars
showed up at inspection stations
yesterday. OF these, 81 were en-
titled to additional time on their
present tags under the reciprocity
system, while 43 were required to-