Evening star., 1929-12-02
CAPITAL s MOTOR
DEATH LIST Low
Only Boston Leads District
in Auto Safety, Census
Figures Show.

its strict enforcement OF trafnc regula-
tions and its rigid policy of revoking
driving permits in cases of fragrant
violations, has proportionally fewer
such fatalities than any city in the
country except Boston, Mass.
Figures compiled for 18 large cities
by the United States Census Bureau
for the year ending November 2 reveal
that the lowest automobile death rates
per 100000 population were 142 for
Boston, las for Washington and 1853
for San Francisco AT the other end
of the list were Buffalo with 26.2, Cleve-
land, 26.1, and Detroit, $50.
Although the knowledge on the part
of motorists that they can hope for
little mercy il they tranSgreSS the i'm
portant regulations is unqueStlonaDly
the most potent factor in maintaining
good traffic conditions here, other ele-
ments deserve consideration.
The authorities in charge of traffic
control have consistently received splen-
did cooperation from the courts. Cases
are disposed of as quickly as possible by
the courts and there is no disposition
to favor any class.
SchoOlboy Patrols Help.
The schoolboy traffic patrols also have
demonstrated their worth. So we'll have
these youngsters preached their gospel
of caution since the patrols were formed
at the opening of this school year that
not a single child has been injured by
an automobile during school hours.
Other factors which enter into the
situation, according to Assistant Traffic
Director NJ. o. Eldridge, are the crea-
ton of through streets, installation of
traffic lights and the width of the
streets.
There is the Traffic Council, COM
pcsed of three members of the Amer
lean Automobile Association, three
from the Automotiye Trade Association
and two each from the Washington
Chamber of Commerce. Board of Trade
and Merchants and Manufacturers As
sociation. 1t acts in an unofficial ad-
viSory capacity.
The official advisory group is the
Traffic Advisory Board, comprising the
director of traffic, the chief engineer of
highways, the assistant superintendent
of police, the engineer of public util-
tiles and the Office engineer of the
Traffic Bureau These two groups hold
regular meetings conduct researches
along scientific lines and carry their
recommendations forward in their re-
Spcctive capacities.
Lauds Enforcement of Laws.
Mr. Eldridge. who is in charge of
permit rcVocations, accident studies and
analyses, regulations and surveys. is
convinced, however, that by far the
most important factor is the strict en-
forcement of the traffic laws.
When a motoriSt knows he is going
to lose his permit to drive on his third
conviction for speeding or his first con-
viction for reckless driving while intoXi-
Gated. he is going to be maghty care
full Mr.. Eldridge said. He knows
that he is going to have difficulty getting
the permit restored and that he will be
sent to jail if he drives without it. The
result is that they become model drivers
when they get close to the danger line
Some months ago we inaugurated a
system of centralized traffic control
Under this plan all traffic policemen
were brought into the Central Traffic
Bureau under the direction of one
head. Formerly they had been scat
tered through the several precincts.
Almost Immediately an Improvement
in traffic conditions was noted. Fol
two months there were no serious acci-
dents. Arrests for such offenses as
speeding, reckless driving and driving
while drunk decreased indicating that
motorists were driving more carefully
This system has been continued and
we believe it is proving highly sue
cessful
Twelve through streets radiating to
the outskirts from the downtown sec
ton OF the city have speeded traffic
movement and contributed to safer
driving conditions. A total of 700
traffic lights have been installed. con-
trolling It's of the more dangerous in
tersectionS. These lights also have con-
trlbuted to a material decrease in the
number of accidents"
The Office of director of traffic was
created by law in 1925. The directors
function was to control and study
traffic, the police to take care of traffic
law enforcement under his direction
Inc WlSdcm OF this innovation is ap-
parent in traffic statistics for the past
six years
In 1923. when the total number of
automobiles operating in the city was
much smaller, 81 persons were killed
IN 0,49l accidents. In 1924 there were
9,13l accidents and 81 fatalities. and
In 1925 there were "a deaths and 1891
accidents.
In 1926, after the traffic director had
begun to function, the number of acct
dents dropped sharply to 6,485, with
only 70 deaths. In 1927 there were
4.947 accidents and "a deaths, and in
1923 total of 5.632 accidents with
63 deaths. Up to November 80 of this
year "A persons had been killed in ac-
cidents.
These figures reveal that there has
been sharp decrease in the number
OF traffic accidents and fatalities since
the traffic director started his work. de-
spite the fact that the number of auto
mobiles on the streets has been increas-
ing steadily. At the end of the last
fiscal year there were approximately
100000 motor vehicles registered in the
city, about 10000 operating here daily
from Maryland Virginia and an unes-
timated number from other States. The
ctty's population was approximated at
$4,000.
Favors Regular Surveys.
In Massachusetts motorists cannot
obtain an operators permit until they
have secured liability insurance The
result has been that the insurance
companies have insisted that the auto.
mobiles be. in excellent mechanical con.
dition and that the applicants for in.
surance be physically competent tc
drive. The result it is believed, has
been a tendency toward safer driving
although there has been some criticism
to the effect that motorists with insur.
ance are apt to grow careless, knowing
they are protected financially to The
eXt2nt of their policy.
Although applicants for operating
permits in this city must pass a strict
examination, they are not required Il
hold insurance. However. there has
been much agitation for the enactment
of such a law.
Traffic Director William H Harlanc
also fayors regular appropriations tC
conduct traffic surveys. Such surveys,
he said, result in the preparation Of
accurate traffic flow maps and other
Cata which enables the authorities tC
fTrtpr-raif0p with f'pprpp Cf q int Z
where and when traffic changes should
b made and traffic lights and Other