Evening star., 1933-10-22

u WdSlllllSlUl Will uuNOAAACS--~
" drivers involved in serious trail
fic accidents. according TO VIII
liam H. Van Duzer, director OF the
Department Of Vehicles and franc.
Van Duzer has just completed an
analysis of the disposition OF the 80 ~
traffic fatality cases in the District last
wear. which shows that "a per cent OF
the drivers were ignored by coroners.
iuries-that is. the cases pronounced
accidental" TWenty-SiX. per cent OF
the drivers were held for the grand
Jury, II per cent were ignored and 3'4
rer cent were tried and found guilty.
AT the close of the year another 4
per cent of the drivers cases were stlll
pending in court.
In many of the cases ignored by the
coroners iuries and the grand lurleS'
Van Duzer said. the drivers involved
we're apparently driving negligent!y.
carelessly or recklessly at the time the
accidents occurred.
The conditions in Washington, how
ever are rot very different from those
which prevail in many other cities
throughout the United States.
Other Cities.
TN Baltimore. for instance. where
15O fatalities occurred last year, only
OF per cent of the drivers were tound
guilty of major ofenses; in Buffalo IN
o5 fatality cases, ? per cent were 1culo 4
guilty: in Milwaukee in 86 cases 80
ner cent we're found guilty: in Blrmlng-
ham in SO cases. only SO per cent were
found guilty while in Philadelphia, III
343 cases. 5 per cent OF the ui NeIo
were found guilty.
g I0rOprPcC was Ql3ut
in San Francisco for in that city out
CT 12l fatality cases. 90 per cent OF
the drivers we're found guilty, and IN
Oakland, Calf, Z per cent were touho
guilty. o,,+,,.
made considerable progress in prlnglE!s
to Justice negligent driEers III traInc
fata itv cases. Out Of 288 trathc ta'an-
ties last wear. 2G1 pei cent OF tHe
drivers we're found guilty and I per
cent of the cases were still penolhg IL
the courts at the end of the year.
No Specific Statute
"one reason for the higher per-
centaSc Of cOnvIctlollS IN betloI.' to t1o
cC,,rared with other cities. may pe
due to the fast that Mlchigan mas q
statutory law covering the cTlnle VI
negligent homicide, whereas III llle DiS
trict and in many other cites, Il!oIu!!-
tary manslaughter or Negligent honl!-
eide is punishable under the common
low, or as ii is sometimes called tne
nnv,ritten law. In other words, the
District has no specific statute on IN
voluntary manslaughter or Negligent
homicide. ..,a,,,o,, 70
II do not know what the answer 10
This nrobiem in the District IS, put
am attempting to find out. IL may pe
that we should have law similar W
the Michigan law. 1t may be that
we should do something which we nave
not done to protect our citizens III au-
tomobile accidents. .,.-
These accidents do not happen, they
are caused. We should ind out tne
cause and if drivers are guilty Oh hegil-
gence they should be penalized. me me
punishment of fragrant Offenders sIlou1o w
establish a wholesome respect Tor the
law and for the rights OF others ana
bring about a reduction in our annual
automobile slaughter.
Public Opinion Factor.
1--WE have traffic lights, trafhc regu-
lations and rules of the road to pro-
tect our citizens. but the annual slaush-
for continues We have c0r0nerS lurleS
and grand iuries and the fragrant VIOLA,
tions in which our citizens are kllleu
continue. for the most part, to be lg-
norcd. Until we have an aroused pup
lie opinion demanding appropriate ac-
ton the present conditions are likely
to continue or grow worse
1--WE should never lose sight OF the
fact that the automobile in the handS
of a skillful, considerate and careful
driver is a rapid and safe means OF
Transportation, but in the hands OF a
careless driver it is a dangerous
weapon-more powerful and more
deadly than a gun in the hands OF
criminal"