Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-03
JUNIOR TRAFFIC
:. PATROLS ATTRACT
Move Bids Fair to Be Taken Up
in Number of Larger
Cities.

The junior traffic patrol movement,
which automobile traffic experts be-
lieve is the solution to the problem of
eliminating motor accidents to children,
has now spread to four large American
cities, and bids fair to be taken up in
some form by practically all COM
munities where frequent auto injuries
to little ones have awakened authorities
to the menace of the situation.
indianapolis. Omaha and st. Paul
have tried out the system thoroughly,
and find II most successful. Chicago Is
trying ii in connection with several
public schools, and prospects are that
schools within short time. School
authorities. wherever 1t has been
adopted. report an immediate lessening
Of traffic accidents to children, the
familiarizing OF the child with traffic
laws, stoppage of dangerous habits like
"jaywalking," hitching on trucks and
automobiles. heedlessness on the street.
running between moving machines etc.
Greatly increased alertness Is likewise
noticed in reporting careless and reck-
less driving to the authorities.
Sponsored by Taxi Owners.
The junior traffic patrol. which has
been sponsored by the National AS
headquarters In Chicago. differs in
details and in name in the various
communities where it has been institute
ed. The general plan, however. Is the
same wherever 1t has been put into
effect.
Each school of the city. whether
public, private or parochial. forms
among its pupils a police organization
whose members are drilled in a general
safety code.fi with special emphasis on
street crossing safety. To provide for
close contact between officials and the
children, one or more teachers, inciud-
ing the principal, are made eX offic.o
members Of the body. Where safety
councils already exist the patrols are
affiliated with them as branches, al
though this is not considered necessary
to the success Of the scheme
Boy pupils distinguished for their
influence among the other students are
selected as traffic officers. drilled thor
oughly in their duties, required to
oiedge themselves to a strict code of
conduct. and provided with badges of
authority. usually stars. AT flxed hours
of the day. when traffic in the vicinity
of school buildings is heaviest, and
when pupils are going to or coming
from school. these officers are stationed
at street Intersections to direct the
little ones across in safety.
Duties OF Omcers.
In some places the boy officers merely
see that no child crosses at 4 time
! when there is danger of an accident
But as the scheme has worked out in
other communities. the officers are re-
quired to form the children in COM
panies and march them across the
street at stated intervals. These COM
munities have recognized the worth of
the movement to the extent Of passing
ordinances providing for the arrest
and fine of any driver Of a vehicle who
wilfully breaks the formation of any
group of children so conducted.
beyond safeguarding the children OF
on the streets. but are declared to
autoists who are inclined to disregard
the laws when out of sight Of a traffic
officer. As long as there Is a boy in
sight the driver never knows but that
he may be under the surveillance of a
junior patrol officer, and he conducts
himself accordingly.
The city of st. Paul has reported es-
pecially good results with the move.
ment, which Is called there THE Junior
Police Patrol" A bulletin issued re.
Gently by the city department of edu.
cation contained signed statements by
the superintendent of schools ten school
PARTICIPATES and the commissioner OF
public safety testifying to the value OF
the Student-off1cer system for con-
trolling the movement Of school chill
dren in congested traffic areas and re-
ducing accidents.