Evening star., 1921-02-12
LAUDS CHIEF OF D. c.
!. !. !. TRAFFIC POLICE
Capt. H. A. Lewis, Portland,
Oreq., Discusses Prevention
(; of Auto Accidents.
At fifty miles
Drove Ollie Pidd,
He thought he wouldn't
Skid, but did.
Rome IN. " Times
By THEODORE p. MOVES.

By THEODORE p. MOVES.
Praise for Capt. Albert Headley.
chief of the traffic squad of the Met
ropolitan police department.. and a
tribute to the power of the press in
the prevention of automobile acci-
dents. is contained in a letter received
from H. A. Lewis. captain in the traf-
f1c department of the city of Portland,
Greg.
1.-The newspapers here" writes Capt
Lewis. have literally 'crucified the
judge, district attorney. coroner. city
attorney and the police department
the driver and his employer, and the
person responsible for the accident.
whenever and wherever they have
failed, either by omission or commits
sion. to do their whole duty in each
case where there is a person injured
or killed.
Tribute TO Capt. neadley.
You have a fine man and an eff
cient traffic manager IN capt. Head
ley, who was the head of the traf-
fic department in your city when L
was last there. Give him all your
support and from what i know of his
knowledge and ability l believe he
will be able TO get You out of your
present difficulties
Ndpt- Lew Is duNlSSS w toii "
give Capt. Headiey all of its support
The advice is good. and, of course,
. applies to the local police department
also. Capt. Headley. with the united
support of the community and the po-
lice department, can work wonders
for the city.
Statistical Showing.
According to statistics compiled by
Capt. Lewis, Portland had forty-two
.dents and twenty-eight in 1920.
Washington had sixtyseven fatal
titles in 1919 and fifty-siX in 1920.
Portland is a little more than half
.the size of Washington.
Causes of accidents. of which there
twere 10.03S in Portland. are given as
Follows: Carelessness. 1851; failure
Ito give right of way, 1896: skidding.
437: cutting corner. 37S; failure to
,give signal when turning. 307: speed
ing, 277: reckless driving. 1S4: jay
walking 119; driving on left side of
: street, 116; defective brakes. ia: no
lights. Al: passing vehicles at inter
sections. SO: operating automobile
! while intoxicated. 25; jockeying on
! bridges, "a: glaring headlights. 21;
/ double parked, 10; inexperienced. Is;
iweather. Z; reverse direction in the
middle Of block, s.: defective gear. 5;
lost control, 5: side curtain on ma
chine. 4; engine stalled. 4: improper
parking. 2: no tail Light, ]; !; obstructed
traffic view, 25. 80 s-.s
You will notice" says Capt. Lewis,
s'that in the comparison of fatal acci-
dents with 1919. we have decreased our
casualties by an appreciabie extent, in
spite of an increase in the number of
machines.
Education Campaign Noted.
81 attribute this result largely to a con-
slant educational campaign by the Ore
gon journal. which has carried daily
stories. furnished by this department,
showing the number of accidents daily.
the cause of them and what should have
been done to avoid them. .
'"The traffic department has carried on
an educational campaign in all civic clubs
/ and like organizations and. in addition.
has tried hard te,enferee the traffic, laws
without fear sofsf AvSf!FaIld. in my Belief
has succeeded in imbuing the public with
] a, wholesome respect of the law.
My advice is 70 aet, behind your police
department. and hefp Them enforce the
law on every Violation. regardless of pull
or power Line uD your civic clubs
courts and law f3nfofcing bodies and see
I. that they do tfeH full duty in each case
: Give every move plenty of publicity and
/ educate the people and then see that they
/ 1.-Two up to that education"