Evening star., 1954-09-29
Officials Meet
For Solutions
Area Traffic
White House Buckin,
Seen Necessary for
Top-LeveI Study
BY George Beveridqe

loP-level Study
BY George Beveridee
The need for White House
support of a top-level commits
sion to seek solutions to area
transportation problems was put
before Maryland, District and
Virginia officials today.
The plea was made at the an
nual Commissioners and Cover
nors' Conference on Metropoli-
tan Traffic Problems, held in the
Hotel Washington.
The officials met in bid for
closer cooperation in common
area problems and more stand
ardization of laws and rules in
their Jurisdictions.
Meeting for the third year.
they heard proposals at all-day
session that ranged from the
expansion of radar traffic traps
to standard laws governing
chemical tests to determine
drunken driving.
Spencer Among Speakers.
Key speeches were to be de-
livered by Representative Broy-
hill. Republican. of Virginia;
Maryland Roads Commissioner
Russell M. Mccain and District
Commissioner Samuel Spencer.
The afternoon session was to
feature a panel discussion on
traffic laws by Federal and
State legislators and District Of
f1cialS, plus a question answer
session between the officials and
seven reporters.
The conference centered, how
ever. around recommendation
of special committees, which
presented reports based on
year of study.
A Committee on Traffic I'M
provement, headed by j. N. Rob-
ertson, District highway direc-
tor. urged immediate work on a
legislative draft to provide for
the top-level commission study
OF area transportation ills.
Proposed Years Ago.
The Robertson report noted
that such commission study
was proposed two years ago by
Harland Bartholomew, National
Capital Planning Commission
chairman. It said the legislative
draft, after a review of the Bar
tholomew proposal, should be
sent Immediately to. the Budget
Bureau for inclusion "as part of
the Presidents program in the
84th Congress"
The planning commission, in
a separate action this month,
voted to prepare the same kind
of draft for Budget Bureau con-
sideration.
Other proposals in the COM
mittee reports included:
Traffic Improvement.
]. A review in each jurisdic-
tion of regulations providing for
off-street parking facilities and
revision where necessary. The
report said new spaces should
be provided by private enter
prise to the extent practicable.
2. More intensive efforts to
"acquaint the public with the ad-
vantages" of bus and Streetcar
t1avei to relieve congestion.
8. Some form of auto inspec-
ton in Maryland. The District
1nspects cars annually and Vir-
ginia every six months. Mary
land has none.
4. More extensive legislation to
protect highways from roadside
development that endangers
travel.
The Robertson report cited
U. S. Route 40 between Balti-
more and Aberdeen as an ex-
ample of what roadside develop
ment can do. It said the road
way, believed in 1910 to be ade-
quate to carry traffic volumes
beyond the year 1860, is today !
inadequate to handle safely and /
expeditiously the traffic now US
ing it."
1T is ironical," the report said.
shat the highway which brought |
prosperity to these roadside
businesses has become function
ally obsolete because of lack of
control of access"
LICENSING AND INSPECTION.
Chairman, George E. Keneipp,
District traffic director.
1. Highest priority should be
given to adoption of an auto
inspection system in Maryland.
2. Maryland should periodi-
cally renew drivers licenses.
3. Maryland and Virginia
should regularly re-examine
drivers beyond the age of IS.
The District has found 80 per
cent are unable to pass license
tests.
I. Driver testing officials
should have more money so they
can devote more time testing
applicants attitude toward safe
driving"
UNIFORM LEGISLATION,
Chairman. Robert F. Kneipp. !
District Assistant Corporation
Counsel.
/. Each jurisdiction should
work toward adoption of a six
proof" traffic ticket. instead of
seeking ways to stop officials
from fixing tickets.
2. Get laws in all three areas
that permit voluntary chemical
tests to determine intoxication.
The report said a blood or
urine finding of less than .05 of
! per cent Of alcohol by weight
should presume a finding of So
briefly. A finding between those
levels should presume neither,