Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-08-14
Drastic Action
Planned 10 Curb
DC. Speeders
U.S.AttorneySu
Plan to Make All
Take New Road Test

VIM Wv INS00 ! CSl
More drastic action agains
speeders and other motorists VIII,
f1aunt the law or show Incompetence,
was indicated today as more official
here added their suggestions to tn,
myrid recommendations alread,
made for reducing the city's traffic
dangers.
Assistant United States Attorne,
John B. Diamond and COMMISSIONS
Guy Mason took official cognizanct
OF the serious situation for the frs,
time.
1T may become necessary to null
lily all District permits and to re-
quire everybody to take new exam
nations" said Mr. Diamond, whose
office handles negligent homicide
cases at Municipal Court growing
out of traffic fatalities.
1T has been my experience that
the average driver is not familiar
with one-ffth of the traffic regula-
tons, he said.
No Conferences Held.
In connection with Mr.. Diamond S
statement, George E, Keneipp, di-
rector Of traffic and vehicles, said
the United States attorneys Office
had not discussed the matter with
him.
L don't know just what they have
In mind" Mr.. Keneipp declared
Existing statutes would not permit
us to nullify valid permit with
out some cause
In demanding suspension of per-
mits of drivers exceeding IS miles
an hour, Commissioner Mason said
"Thirty-five miles per hour is fast
enough for any one to drive in the
District. Any one driving faster
than that is guilty of reckless driv-
ing. l don't car whether he is a
doctor or who he is
He added that sHeeders are not
going to be stopped by a mere in
slstence that they appear in court
License Revocation Vital.
THE most effective weapon we
have is the power to revoke a driv-
ers license and I am in favor OF
using it." he declared.
Mr.. Mason explained the District
speed limit is actually 25 miles an
hour, with 80 miles an hour per-
Missile on arterial highways cut
ting through the city. He said that
as matter of permanent policy he
favored the 35-mile-an-hour maxi
mum as basis for revocation
action.
A 40-milean-hour rate already
has been adopted by traffic officials
here as the speed at which tempo
rary automatic suspension of per-
mits shall be invoked.
Mr.. Keneipp said he personally
favored giving the new policy a
thorough trial before resorting to
more drastic action.
Since August l." the traffic di-
rector continued, we have tight
ened up our examination on under
II permit applicants and We have
clamped down on the reckless and
incompetent driver who appears to
be accident-prone In cooperation
with the District Medical Society
We are developing a plan designed
10 more effectively deal with phys
lcai Incompetence at the wheel.
Steps Taken Effective.
These steps have already had
profound effect, and when the full
slgnlflNance is realized by more peo-
pie there should be a big drop in
incompetent driving and traffic ac-
cidentS."
Fourteen speeders arrested in the
24-hour period between 8 am. yes
terday and 8 an. today on charges
OF going 40 miles an hour or more
face temporary suspension of their
permits IN line with the edict
adopted by traffic officials.
One Of them listed by police as
Walter J. Trojanowski, %, of Bridge
port. Conn, was accused of going so
miles an hour in 30-mile- hour
zone on New York avenue NE. He
spent the night at No. precinct for
failure to post $50 collateral. it was
said, and was to appear in court
today
Forty-two other speeders. all of
whom were clicked at under 40 miles
an hour, were also arrested in the
24-hour period, in which police re-
ported II accidents and u persons
injured.
Following agreement with Corpo-
ration Counsel West, Mr.. Keneipp
also disclosed his Office, starting to-
day, will make motorists from States
not requiring drivers road tests. to
take such tests here before getting
permits to drive in the District.
Road Tests Demanded.
In insisting that these drivers take
road tests now. Mr. Keneipp said
that heretofore. motorists holding
licenses from States not insisting
on this step, merely had to take a
written examination to get District
permits.
Under the new policy, drivers from
Mississippi, Rhode Island, Mon
tana, Nevada, Missouri, Kansas
Minnesota, North Dakota and Idaho
will be affected In addition. three
States which require no drivers
permits at all will be involved
Louisiana, Wyoming and South
Dakota.
I'VE are going to have to b.
pretty strict about drivers tests
Mr.. Keneipp remarked. He said 3:
applicants out of 81 failed to pas,
yesterday and 46 out of 80 on Mon.
day.
Although not naming specifi,
sites, Mr.. Keneipp also disclosed h,
had in mind three general loca.
tons for downtown parking garage,
where. it was said, buildings wolIlc
be constructed or converted and Oh.
Grated by private interests as s
step toward cutting down accident,
by alleviating the serious parkin,
situation.
Parking Areas Studied,
Mr.. Keneipp said certain build.
1ngs under consideration are NORTH
of Pennsylvania avenue, between
sixth and Tenth streets NV. ives