Evening star., 1934-05-29
URGES OBSERVING
OF TRAFFIC RULES
Assistant Director Speaks
to Mid-City Citizens
Association.

Stricter observance of District traffic
regulations-particularly the speed law
was urged by M. o. Eldridge, assist
ant director of traffic, last night before
the Mid-City Citizens Association. He
pointed out the number of traffic IA
talities for the first four months of
1884 was almost double that for the
corresponding period Of 1888.
He said that AZ deaths had resulted
from traffic accidents for the first four
months of this year as compared with
"a for the same period in 1888 Nine
fatalities have occurred this month, as
compared with during May, 1888, he
said.
Accidents Decrease 420.
During this period, however, the
number of traffic accidents decreased
by 42O, but the number of personal
injuries increased, he declared.
The principal causes of traffic ac-
cir 'nts, he said, are failing to give
right way, reckless driving. skid
ding. driving while intoxicated. losing
control of car, speeding and nom
observance of traffic signals.
Ninety-four accidents during the
four months period this year were
charged to reckless driving, as COM
pared with 68 in the same period last
year, an increase o. 38 per cent, he
said
Other figures given by Mr.. Eldridge
showed that during this period the
number of street cars involved in
traffic accidents had been increased by
&C, while the number of taxicabs in
volved had decreased by 257; drivers
under the age o. Is years have figured
in 40 per cent of the accidents this
year as compared with 80 per cent
during the same period last year; the
best drivers are those between Is and
l8 years Of age.
Touching briefly on the question Of
the all-night parking ban, he said;
we are simply trying to get the
sentiment of the citizens" He added
that he believed the time was COM
ing soon when it would be necessary
to eliminate a]l-night parking on all
main avenues at least.
Parking Committee Named.
The association voted to refer the
matter Of all-night parking to a
special committee. composed OF G..
Howard Dunnington, H. M. Lanford
and DR.. F. Thomas Evans.
A resolution favored by the group
asked for appropriations in the 1886
District budget for new school to
replace the old Dennison Vocational
School, on S street between Thir-
teenth and Fourteenth streets. This
action was taken after it had been
pointed out the project had been left
out of the 1885 District budget.
The citizens protested against CIV
ing local "key" positions to out-of-
town people. 1t was pointed out the
Board of Public Welfare has recently
installed non-residents of the District
il important posts.
The group approved the bill now
pending in Congress to allow District
residents to elect delegates to the ma
tional political conventions.
Widening Is Urged.
Other resolutions passed Dy the
group asked for the widening of G
street between Seventh and Ninth
streets and Mount Vernon place be-
tween Seventh and Ninth streets.
The group also proposed that the
present District laws be changed so
as to deny the right to operate auto
mobiles for period of not less than
one year to any person convicted OF
driving while drunk. The present
minimum penalty is now six months,
it was said.
Edwin Callow entertained the men,
bers with several humorous stories
and poems.
The association voted to leave it up
to the Executive Committee to decide
whether or not there would be a meet
ing in June.
Nineteen new members were re-
ceived by the group.