Evening star., 1922-05-23
STRESSES DANGER
IN STREET TRAFFIC
Inspector HeadIey Tells AS
soCiation Accidents Are
Due to "Road Hogs"

Declaring that there are entirely
too many traffic accidents on the
streets of Washington, Inspector
Headley, in charge of the traffic di-
vision of the police department. in
an address before the Mid-City Citi-
zens' Association meeting last night
in the Thomson School. placed the
blame largely on what he described
as road hogs"
Just so long as the man driving
an automobile or other vehicle re-
mains Indifferent to the safety and
comfort of others there will be acci-
dents Inspector Headley stated. "Of
course, in many instances the, pedes-
trian is at fault or else the accident
is what is termed unavoidable Care
and caution should be exercised by
the latter just as we'll as by the
operator of an automobile"
Mistakes as to "RIght-Of-Wny."
"Unfortunately, many automobilists
are mistaken as to the privileges of
right ofway. the inspector con-
tended. Some of these road hogs
assume that having the right-ofway
makes them immune TO all blame.
and labor under the impression that
that right gives them the right to
take human life. Such is not the
case.
IL is both distressing and depressing
TO think of the number of serious acci-
dents on our thoroughfareS. but there
always will be traffic accidents with the
ever-increasing population and number
of vehicles on the streets" the traffic
chief continued. However. the records
show that despite the increase in popu-
lation and the fact that there were
many more automobiles operating here
during the past ten months than during
the preceding period, there is a notice
able reduction in the number of fatal
accidents. My department is doing its
best to cooperate with the problem,
and We are hoping that this decrease
will continue.
There Were seventy-siX street ia
talities in 1919. while during the past
ten months there Were forty-tive. and
of these latter only ten cases We're held
by the Coroner's jury as being due to
the direct negligence of some individ-
ual.
sixty Persons Seriously Hurt.
Besides these fatalities. sixty per-
sons were seriously injured in street
accidents. That our department is en-
deavoring to bring about better Condi-
tions is evident from the fact that We
made 6.T9T arrests during the past ten
months, besides inStituting various new
traffic regulations, including the new
zone areas for marking. -fs further
means OF reducing careless driving. we
have made more severe the tests which
applicants for licenses to operate auto
mobiles must pass.
In conclusion. inspector Headley
paid Il high tribute to the efficiency
of Commissioner oyster. who is in
direct charge of the police depart
n:ent. and to Maj. Sullivan. superin-
tendent of police. both of whom. he
described as being especially inter-
ested in improving traffic conditions.
Mrs. G.. T Shannon of the Parent
Teachers Assoc citation explained to
the meeting the objects of that or
ganization and described some of its
more notable accomplishments
Star Editorial Commended.
\ resolution was adopted comend-
ing the editorial printed in The Star.
May 13. relative to the budget as 1t
affects the District of Columbia.
A. J. Driscoll, president of the As
s"ciation. presided, and the report
of the executive committee. made by
Gilbert Hall. protesting against the
proposed change in the fiscal rela-
tionS between the federal and Dis
rriCt governments was unanimously
approved.
DR. H. u. Norton was appointed
member Of the community service
committee. Persons elected to
membership were: Miss Ida w.
Stewart, William J. H. Robinson,
John NJ. Waters and Mrs. F. c. Crow.
The meeting was concluded with
music and refreshments.