Evening star., 1922-11-29
SAFETY WEEK CUTS
TRAFFIC MISHAPS
First Three Days of Drive
Passes Without Single
Death.

Safety week has borne run; already
that more than repays Washington
for the time and money il has devoted
TO that cause. Statistics show that IN
the first three days Of the campaign
not one person has been killed by ac-
cident and only twelve slightly in
jured
Before the Safety week campa IGN
opened Washington averaged six per
sons killed every week and forty-nine
injured, several of whom usually
were children, who were more or less
permanently MANNED. If the city
the number of persons injured will be
cut in half and the deaths entirely
eliminated
CarefuInesn Noted.
Those behind the movement de-
clared this morning that the record
already attained shows the need for a
permanent educational campaign here.
No person who drives an automobile,
it was pointed ont. o.u help noticing
a grateful growth in care on the part
Of motorists and pedestrians alike
Drivers are using more care. partic-
ularly in the more congested traffic
districts. where accidents are most
likely to occur. One Of the most nota-
Bile effects the drive has had is tnat
nearly all drivers TOW sound th,-ir
horn before overtaking and passing
another car, which was courtesy
rarely shown by Washington motor
lists before.
Another Improvement is in the num-
har f,S SfS Si. 10 hon y
intention to stop or turn. also one
of this city's much Neglected laws
before the Safety-we@k campaign
opened. one OF the most frequent
complaints made by visiting motor
lists was that Washington drivers
never took tie right-of-Way when
they We're entitled to it, and almost
invaria bly, shot across intersections
when other drivers had the right-of-
way. This. too. is rapidly disappear
Drive TO he Pushed.
Every man, woman and child in the
District of Columbia has now hs ard
the message Of safety first. by word
of mouth. telegraph. radio or mail.
From now on they VIII continue 10
have that lesson driven home. The
Washington Safety Council is an as
women who compose il will be in
positions to carry out its decisions.
having regard to the c.tyS official
authorities. Of course.
For instance. every man and woman
on the traffic committee VIII be what
is known as a key man. Heads of
the stree: railway companies. city
Off and reputable citizens will
comprise its membership SO thai.
when the committee refers a PROPOSE
ton to the main council for adoption.
it is assured that The men and
women competent to enforce the de-
cision helped frame it in the COM
mittee.
1t is 4. recognized fact that one of
the greatest menaces in traffic today
is the truck driver who, free of fear
that he might injure himself and
caring little for the sofeiy of his
car. runs helter shelter through
Pedestrians and other machines with
out regard for others
Plans Drivers school
The council intends 10 organize
school for the drivers of commercial
vehicles. AS the employers of these
men are to be members of the council
there is no doubt whether or not they
will attend. The school will not only
teach them the law regarding traffic.
but Will also go into the mechanical
features of their machines so they will
know how 10 act when emergencies
arise.
In every school in the city the les
son of Safety week is being taught
re,igiously. Safety will. hereafter. he
part of the school child's daily instruc-
tion-public. parochial and private
The Washington safety council viii
keep teachers supplied with Informal
ton ana soon every child will find IL
just as much of Il duty to know safety
rules as .trithme dc. The campa IN
being conducted in government de-
partments also is TO be perpetuated.
SO that the need for caution on the
part of every person will Toe kept alive.
Similar campaigns have shown re
markable results in other cities. In
Milwaukee the death rate per 1000
motor vehicles was cut in half: De-
troit cut accidental deaths almost 80
per cent: st. Louis reduced death per
1000 automobiles from 81 TO IA, and
New York. Pittsburgh and Baltimore
showed big cuts in accidental deaths.