Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-06
TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
IN D. c. DECREASING
Mai. Pullman Believes Edu-
cationaI Campaign Begun
January | Aided Result.

Maj. Raymond w. Pullman. super
intendent of police, yesterday gave
out a statement showing a decrease
in the number of traffic accidents dur
ing the second half of the fiscal year
and suggesting that the decrease
probably resulted from the educa-
tional campaign started the first of
the wear, combined with strict en-
forcement of the traffic laws He
also made it plain that the work VIII
be continued in an effort to reduce
traffic accidents to a minimum.
Maj. Pullman's Statement.
The statement, in part, is as fol-
lows:
The biggest piece of educational
work done by the department last
year will continue next year in the
work carried on by lectures by mem
bers of the traffic squad. and also by
enforcing the regulations by the new
traffic branch appropriated for by
Congress, provision having been made
lieutenant and two traffic sergeants.
All of the school pupils were ad-
dressed in the year just closed on the
matter of street safety. and perhaps
the largest single piece of work ever
pulled off in the United States was in
ing of the schools in Washington.
when more than 0.000 children were
addressed on street safety by their
teachers, who read a street safety
message from the major and superin
tendent of police and instructed the
children on how to prevent accidents
during the vacation season.
Says Figures Erroneous.
Contrary to the erroneous state
ment recently published by the high
ways transport committee of the
Council of National Defense, New
York's traffic death rate has not re-
manned almost stationary during the
past year, while it was stated that
Washington has increased by leaps
and bounds AS matter of fact
Washington's death rate from acct
dents decreased more than Is per
cent in 1919 under 1918 and the rate
in New York has increased consid-
erably. as has been shown by Secre-
tary OF State Hugo. who has charge
Of safety work and traffic work
throughout the state of New York
Asserts Safety Campaign Helped.
THE street safety educational cam
paign which the police department
started January 1 is believed to have
played a big part in cutting down
traffic accidents from forty-one during
the first six months of the fiscal year
of 1919 to twenty-nine during the
last six months. or, in other words, a
reduction in fatal traffic accidents of
more than 20 per cent
In spite of the congeSted condi-
tons in the city during the war
period. during which time the popula-
ton of the District of Columbia
jumped from less than 400, 900 to more
than 100000, there was a decrease in
traffic accidents during the fiscal year
OF 1919. just closed. There were six
teen less persons killed during the
fiscal year of 1919 than during the
previous year. In other words, the
traffic accidents in 1919 were seventy,
as compared with eighty-six fatalities
ton is. perhaps. the only large city
in the country which brought about a
decrease in traffic accidents during
this period.
More q. S. Vehicles Used.
Not only was there a tremendous
increase in the ownership of private
vehicles in Washington during the
year 1919 over 1918, but there was
tenfold increase in the num-
Der Of War Department and other
government-owned vehicles using the
streets.
'Of the seventy persons killed in
street accidents in 1919 in Washing
ton. fifty were killed by motor
vehicles and twenty by steam or
street railway cars or other vehicles"
Maj Pullman, some time ago all
dressed the public school children
in an effort to interest them in mat
ters pertaining to the prevention of
accidents. He gave them much ad
vice and laid down numerous rules
for them to follow. telling them they
could be of great service to the police.
His advice related to accidents of all
kinds. and impressed upon them the
necessity for making safety first"
their motto.