Evening star., 1934-02-07
TRAFFIC VIGILANCE
BODY IS PROPOSED
Columbia Heights Citizens
Association Asks
"Safety Month.

Formation of a Citizens Vigilance
Committee to report traffic violations
to authorities was suggested to the
Columbia Heights Citizens Associa-
tion last night by J. Russell Craig Of
Philadelphia, member Of the National
Safety Council
The association took no action on
this suggestion, but did vote to ask the
District Commissioners to set apart
a period of 80 days. to be known as
traffic safety month" during which
time all traffic regulations would be
enforced strictly and pedestrians re-
quested to comply with traffic lights.
Pedestrians Blamed.
Mr.. Craig told the citizens that
more traffic fatalities are caused by
pedestrians than by motorists. He
also stressed the point that usually
the commercial driver is far safer
than the private car driver. During
the period from 1927 to 1881, he said,
the number of fatalities due to COM
mercial vehicles decreased II per cent,
while deaths due to private cars in
creased so per cent. He mentioned
the drivers employed by The Star as
an example of what can be done in
the way of lessening accidents.
The three things to consider in the
traffic problem of any city, he said,
are the three "Es'' of engineering,
education and enforcement.
The speaker asserted that painted
safety zones menace pedestrians by
giving a false sense of security. Un-
safe speed, he said, causes more acci-
dents than anything else except self
ishness. He stressed the benefit which
results from newspaper stories depict
ing accidents.
Fairgrounds Discussed.
The problem of securing adequate
playground sites for children in thick
ly populated communities was dis
cussed by Miss Sibyl Baker, director
of Fairgrounds. She urged the CO.
lumbia Heights Citizens Association
to campaign for a playground in its
section.
Playing is more essential naturally
to a child than going to school. she
declared. urging adequate Fairgrounds
as an outlet for the energy which often
finds its vent in juvenile delinquency
Miss Baker pointed out that while
the District budget shows 7 per cent
of the Districts funds was spent for
recreation only one-half Of per cent
went for the recreation of young peo-
| pie. the rest being expended for main
tenance of parks and for similar func
tions.
Hearing Methods Disapproved.
The association adopted resolutions
expressing disapproval of the methods
of the ublic Utilities Commission in
conducting the Washington and
Georgetown gas light companies val
| uation hearings in allowing original
cost valuations and asked the COM
mission to end the hearings as soon
as possible, so as to bring about re-
duction in rates and to save expenses.
In another resolution the group as
serted that street car service here has
| been worse since the recent merger
than before, and asked for an explain
alton from the Public Utilities Com
mission and the Capital Transit Co.
The citizens voted to request that
every policeman be instructed to ques-
ton all persons seen taking anything
from a car. with the end in view Of
lessening thefts of accessories from
parked machines
| The association disapproved the
House bill to increase the local gaso-
line tax from to cents per gallon