Evening star., 1949-06-19

PIon Would Align
Regulations With
Trumon Proposals
Revision Of the Districts traffic
to bring them in con-
formity with the National Uni-
form Vehicle Code. as advocated
by the Presidents Traffic Safety
Conference. viii be proposed TO
the Commissioners Tuesday.
Meanwhile. it was learned that
another move is under considera-
ton which would compel motor
lists here to be responsible finan-
cially In case Of personal or prop
erty damage, or lose their driving
permits.
A legislative amendment pro-
posed by Traffic Director George
E. Keneipp is being drafted in
the Corporation Counsel's ONCE
for submission to the Commis-
sioners. 1t would tighten the
present law and also bring 1t in
line with the national uniform
code.
Present Law Cited.
AS the law stands. an injured
party must sue to recover dam
ages where the motorist will not
be responsible voluntarily. Failure
to pay a judgment results in a
loss Of permit by the driver.
Under Mr.. Keneipp's proposal.
which would have to have con-
gressional approval. both parties
would be required to submit a re-
port of an accident involving
damage to person or property to
the District traffic department.
A person found potentially
liable for damage would have to
show financial responsibility
through insurance or put up cash
or a bond. Failure to do this would
result In permit suspension until
claims had been met.
The proposed change would not
apply to persons whose cars we're
being driven without their express
or implied consent, whose cars
were legally parked or who suf-
cred property damage only to
their own cars.
Regulation In Effect.
The proposed regulation Is In
effect In Maryland and Virginia.
Mr.. Keneipp explained. He said
he believed it would have salu-
tory effect in accident reduction
by removing from the street
motorists Of proved financially
irresponsible.
Such relics from another era as
the provisions pertaining to acety-
lene headlamps would be stricken
from the regulations under the re-
write to be suggested to the city
heads at their board meeting
Tuesday.
The suggested revisions, which
differ from the present regula-
tions principally In wording. Sc
quence and breakdown, represent
two-and-a-half-years' work by a
committee, including Mr.. Keneipp.
Hardly Noticeable.
Mr.. Keniepp and Police Supt.
Robert j. Barrett will discuss the
proposed changes with the city
heads.
While the revisions would not
be particularly noticeable to the
average motorist-the drivers
handbook here would not have to
be changed-their adoption would
put the District among the leaders
in the country in conformity to
the uniform code.
This Is advocated by the Pres
ident's conference of traffic lead
ers on grounds it creates better
understanding of the traffic laws
in all cities and thus cuts down
accidents.
While the major driving rules.
suoh as speed limits. stop sig
mails and right Of way. would not
be affected. the proposed regula-
tions would be broken down, for
one thing, into more subjects for
quicker location Of the pertinent
rules.
Some Up to Congress.
Some of the revisions would re-
quire congressional action, and the
complete regulations would have
TO be advertised and printed after
approval by the Commissioners
before going into effect. it was
learned.
The committee which devoted
its Monday afternoons to COM
pairing the Districts regulations
with those of the uniform code
for more than two years and drew
up the proposed revisions in
cludes:
Mr.. Keneipp. Nathan r. Lubar.
Inspector Arthur e. Miller OF the
Trafiic Division. NJ. o. Eldredge.
former assistant director Of vehi-
cles and traffic; Robert D. Wise.
Wallace Braun. deputy director of
vehicles and traffic. and William
J. Quinn.
Red Cross BIoodmobile
10 Visit Andrews Base
Al Red Cross bioodmohiie Will
visit Andrews Air Force Base from
. am. TO { pm. Thursday so
a