The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-12-05
ny PHILLIP J. sINNoTr

MI RtAtAaa AFNts " ~"
automobile fatalities and accidents
are increasing Rppallingly In most
American cities. In Detroit. tho mum.
Der Is steadily being decreased.
This In spite OF Detroit's narrow
streets. with their 10000 intersec.
tons Offering many natural hazards.
including those OF irrcgulariy shaped
corners and turns. This. too, In
spite Of the fact that the city has
auadrupied IN sire since the automo.
hihc came into general use, and that
every seventh person in Detroit
owns and operates an automobile
ono OF the highest ownership proper
tons tn the country.
Detroits cure for traffic eviis7 III.
ficient traffic regulations. including
many effective Innovations. and
greatest OF all. education.
Traffic safety education In Detroit
II decidedly intensive. The whole
town Is "soid" ON the idea You
hear IL discussed wherever you so,
Traffic and police department chiefs
cannot walk moro than a block with.
out being stopped by some Citizen
with an idea for reducing traffic
Jams or accidents.
Tho women's clubs discuss traffic
safety. Much Of the time Of the he.
troit Safety council Ia given 10 IL.
In the schools. the safety Idea II so
connected with school work that
there are safety gaurs. safety driliH
and contests between schools with
prizes for those having the lowest
percentage Of automobile accid~nts-
"a n c. In huge letters stares
up nom the pavement IA you step
from tho curt. You ask a Detroit
person what u means. ana he'll tell
YOU. Always lie Carefulf' Don't
YoU Get Hur;r' warns a pavement
sign az another point And there
are more OF them. too-until the pc.
destrian instinc,ively stops. looks
and listens before he hus,ies into the
traffic giuttcd streets.
Detroit n getting results. In 1870
there were aso street traffic killings.
Last year the total was i3s. or saw.
thE OF AZ. uNNa NlfNa& tHT PS'Hs
most cities suffered an appalling
increase. Auto fatalities have
dropped from one death for every
zss machines In 1915. TO one death
for every lilo machines in iss2.
Bringing this about caused many
police department innovations.
which tho rest OF the country Il be
ginning 10 adopt. Among these
are the following;
4 Accident Investigation Bureau.
j A separate department OF the
Detroit traffic division. which Spe.
cializes In the handling OF accidents.
Trained investigating officers com.
prise the force.
Every automobile accident Is In
vestlgated. regardless Of whether
property settlement was made Civil
phases are disregard.d and tho per.
sons at fault are prosecuted in the
interest OF public safety.
"a citizens complaint service.
q whereby cvery resident OF Detroit
II q traffic policeman. Blank post
cards giving Instructions for report.
ing traffic violations or careless
driving are in all Detroit drug
stores. Any person noting such an
Occurrences yoss down the number Of
the car and the incident. II n not
necessary for the complainant 20
sign the card and appear as a wit
ness. for the auto.st IL summoned
20 traffic headquarters. rather than
70 court. and h cautioned
we receive about iss such cards
day declares Inspector jackson.
The result IL that the drivers foel
there Ia a mark against their record
and they must be careful or get a
stiff sentence II they ever get into
trouble
"a safety educational division.
Coperated by the police. holds sever.
al meetings every day In schools. fac
tories and women's clubs. iecturing
and using motion pictures TO teach
safety. Leaflets Of many types are
constantly being distributed Ac.
counts OF all accidents involving
children are read TO the pupiiA
older pupils are trained 10 care
for younger ones In crossing streets.
School janitors use semaphores at
crossings when pupils are approach.
ing or leaving the schools.
Lectures on traffic conditions are
broadcast by traffic experts. thru the
radio.
Judge Charles Bartlett Of the traf-
fic court. whose failing Of speedern
has attracted nationwide attention.
is another powerful fnctor In De-
troit's safety progress Appointed 10
office. he began giving jail terms and