Evening star., 1928-04-01

! prove q surprise TO many, who
constantly complain about their
fast darting In and out, but i:
would appear that the drivers are
expert at least.
Statistics Of the Traffic Bureau
reveal what time Of day the traffic
accidents occurred. There were
2,922 reported during the day
time: 1,490 during the night with
street lighting good, l66 during
the night with street lighting
poor, and Is during the night
with no street lighting at all. The
remaining accidents were about
evenly divided around dawn and
dusk. The fact that the least
number of accidents happened at
night on streets unlighted, is
probably due to the fact that un-
lighted streets are the least fire.
quently travelled.
The number Of accidents out
of 4,697 in which the weather con-
ditionS were noted, occurred as
follows: Three thousand three
hundred and thirty-Seven clear
weather; ITO cloudy; 600 rainy,
and so showing. These figures
prove that .the average motoriSt
drives more carefully in bad
weather and also that during in
clement weather there are fewer
cars on the streets.
Road Surface Conditions.
AS to the condition of the sur
face of the highways that were
noted by the bureau, 3.6l6 accl-
dents were reported on dry streets,
848 on wet asphalt, 70 on wet con-
crete, 66 on wet street of other
types. including macadam and
gravel, 80 on streets covered with
light snow, and 5 on streets
covered with deep snow. The
great difference between the
number of accidents reported on
asphalt and concrete streets Is
said to result from there being far
more streets of asphalt in the city
than those of concrete.
These figures should be a guide
for motorists in the future.
knowledge of how accidents are
caused and obeyance of the
Golden Rule can do nothing but
reduce the yearly casualty figures.
Memorial Road Bill.
It is of interest to note that the
House committee last week re-
ported favorably to the House the
bill to provide $4,500,000 for the
proposed highway to Mount Ver-
non. 1t Is expected that the
House will pass the measure. al
ready approved by the Senate.
The highway, 1t Is anticipated,
will follow the river as much as
possible, and calls upon a 200-foot
right of way. This highway plan
is being mapped out In connection
with the bicentennial anniver-
sary of the birth of George Wash
ington, which falls in 1882. AS
much of the proposed roadway
will cross swampy ground near
the river, much draining and
foundation work will have TO be
begun in the near future. so that
the ground will be sufficiently
fortified In time for the actual
road construction. Details as to
Identification of this memorial
highway, including parking. is
now being considered by the Fine
Arts Commission and the Bureau
of Roads Of the Department of
Agriculture. Completion of this
memorial highway. a connecting
link between the birthplace of the
first President and the Capital of
the Nation, named after him, will
prove most fitting. Commence
ment Of the highway cannot be
too soon.
It Is understood that the new
street cars Of the Capital Traction
Co. are soon to make their ap-
pearance. These cars will mark
a new departure In street rail-
ways. According to officials of
the company, they are TO embody
the comforts and appearances of
a limousine in as far as physically
possible. Something must be
done" it is claimed, "to make peo-
pie want TO ride on street cars"
Their advent will be watched with
interest.
Plans Of the traffic director in
regard TO the installation Of the
traffic lights at the various inter-
sections named by him are still
under way, and at present no
change. due TO objections on Cap
itol Hill, has been made.
Spring overhauling Is now in
the minds OF the majority Of the
city's motorists. despite the fare
back last week Of Winters dying
gasp. Winter hoods are being
taken of and stored away. Alco-
hol is missing from many radi-
ators and repaint jobs are begin
ming TO appear. Collapsible tops
are being lowered for the first
time for many car and every
thing goes 10 indicate that the
touring season In general will
soon be on.
The roadways of this section
and others will soon be calling
their own.