Evening star., 1952-02-28
Flint OF Q Series

lSrSs7ss -
FiHt OF O seNsh
fatal defects, altheHgh no e9mz
petent mechanic could possibly
have overlooked themr
The met9Flst from nearby
Maryland, where compulsory in-
speetlens have been discontinued
left the motor running TO keep his
two small daughters warm While
he took another child into Freed
mems Hospital for treatment,
Broken Exhaust Proves Fatal,
Under the body of the car, q
broken exhaust pipe breathed
odorless, colorless fumes into the
interior, The children became
drowsy, and sank into q deep
sleep that morning of January 80.
1t was O sleep from which they
never awoke.
Here was an example not soon
to be forgotten in closely-knit
community where Maryland and
Virginia automobiles are as much
q part Of the Districts daily traf-
fic streams as the vehicles regis
tered and inspected here.
In fact, the fatal defects of this
sedan had been spotted at q Dis
trict inspection station when a
prospective purchaser took II
through the line here to learn II
he could obtain District tags for
the vehicle. The car was rejected
Is Mechanical Defects Found.
Prior to the inquest, the ma
chine was again inspected here
Fifteen mechanical defects were
found in addition to the leakage
of exhaust fumes. The brakes and
stearing gear were out Of order
as were the lights and windshield
wiper.
Parked or rolling, the potential
threat Of this car was not confined
TO Maryland alone,
The case was called TO the at.
tehtien OF Thomas d. II. Mudd
Commissioner Of Meter Vehicles
for Maryland, In q letter from
FFaffie Director George u. Ken.
|eipp, dated February 0, Mr.
Keneipp said In pafti
II bring this matter to your at.
teHtieh because ! think 1t empha.
sizes the great Importance of some
form of compulsory inspection
programs In all the States, Had
Maryland had such an inspection
it Is altogether possible that nei.
ther of these deaths would have
occurred"
Points to Law of 1929.
Mr., Mudd told The Star that
while he definitely" favors some
sort of Statewide inspection, he
believe that speed rather than me-
chanical failures can be blamed
for most fatal or serious traffic
accidents.
He pointed out that o State
law passed in 1929 gives him au-
thority to require periodic inspec-
tions, but that many owners o1
garages previously designated as
inspection stations are opposed to
resumption Of the plan.
Operators Of service stations In
nearby Maryland, with postwar
experience under the old system
are in general agreement that the
State. and not the private owners
should have full responsibility Il
compulsory inspection is restored
Some customers demanded In.
Ispeetion stickers without the In.
speetions. Failing In this, theS
sought mechanical "okays" else.
where, and sometimes got them OF
their own terms, eidatifaefs say
Moreover, an adverse report
turned In TO state authorities b.
q private garage often meant {
lost customer.
Often Made NO CHARGES.
The dealers were authorised Il
collect beseeRt fees for inspeel
items, but often made no charge
especially II repair work was dom
at their places
Az Chevy Chase Meters thll
service IA still rendered free 10 TN
public, OF about 100 ears a weel
passing through q eheek.up lin
patterned after those In the Dis
tFiet, about 10 per cent are founG
70 have potentially dangerous de-
feets,
Only flaws with q direct bear
Ing on safety are pointed out, Th'
foreman In the shop ventuTed thI
opinion that the cars passing un'
der his inspection are above thu
A.