Evening star., 1926-02-16
UN|F|EDCONTR0L
/ OF TRAFFIC URGED
Eldridge Says This Would
/ Reduce Street Accidents
Here 0ne-Thrd.

With a complete installation of
traffic lights on all the principal
streets. a pedestrian control regula-
Non and the consolidation of all ma
.lor traffic enforcement in the Traffic
Bureau, traffic accidents in Washing
ton would be reduced 33 1-3 per cent
The first year Director of Traffic NJ. o.
Eldridge told the newly organized
Traffic Council of the District at a
meeting last night in the American
: automobile Associations headquarters
ir the Mills Building.
Mr.. Eldridge took the occasion EN-
phatically to deny that he ever sought
TO have the traffic police formed into
an Independent body under his con
troll and apart from the Metropolitan
police force. The endorsement of
traffic regulations is distinctly a po-
lice function" he declared.
1t is my firm conviction, however,
that the Traffic Bureau should func-
ton as an independent bureau of the
department. just as the Detective Bu
rau now functions. All police officers
engaged in regulating and controlling
traffic in the District should be as
signed TO the Traffic Bureau. This
should include all motor cycle officers
engaged in traffic work: all street
crossing men; such additional foot
men as might from time to time he
necessary for the enforcement of park
ing regulations and the handling of
special traffic regulations. and all Of
fCerS assigned to the duty of eXamin-,
ing applicants for operators permits;
together with such civilian employees
the director Of traffic may from time
10 time assign to duty in connection
with the issuance and renewal of op
orators permits and the making.
painting and placing of signs and the
painting of cross walks"
Under One Official.
The traffic director also expressed
the opinion that the inspector in com
mand of the Traffic Bureau should be
responsible for the enforcement of all
traffic regulations and all special traf-
fic situations arising hv reason of pa
rades and unusual gatherings. Thus,
he said, the traffic work would be cen
1ralized. unified and standardized un-
der one official of the Police Depart
ment. Any decentralized plan. by
which the authority is divided among
a number of officials he added. is
bound to lead to confusion and to mis-
Understandings. Too many cooks
however efficient the cooks may be-
spoil the BROTH
Los Angeles has reduced It's traffic
vdeath record by % per cent during the
last year by the use of traffic lights
and a regulation requiring pedestrians
10 cross the street with the lights, Mr..
Eldridge pointed out. WashingtoNs
pedestrian control regulation which
Police Court Judge John p. McMahon
recently held TO be illegal, he said.
was coNed from the Los Angeles
regulation. IF the director of traffic
has no power to suggest that the Dis.
trict Commissioners have no power to
promulgate such regulation he
continued, then It seems to me that IL
Is high time that such authority were |
granted"
Gives Walkers Protection
The new system Of traffic lights on |
Sixteenth street and Massachusetts |
avenue, Mr.. Eldridge explained, pro-
videS absolute protection for pedes-
trians who desire to be protected, but
legislation is urgently needed to con-
troll those who flaunt protection. Un-