Evening star., 1935-10-30
TRAFFIC HELD RISK
TODELAYED CHILD
Other Discipline Suggested
to Take Place OF Late
Time at School.


as a punishment are put in peril Of
their lives through being forced to go
home across streets from which school
traffic patrols and traffic policemen
have been withdrawn and on which, In
most cases, heavy going traffic
has begun to flow, it has been pointed
out to The Star Safety Council.
The point, raised several times since
the present safety campaign was in
augurated, is expressed again in letter
from Mrs. M B. Hortenstine to Arthur
Godfrey as result of one OF his broad
casts over Station WJSV and relayed
by Godfrey to The Star.
Now, pleased" says Mrs. Hortenstine.
''What shall We mothers do COR grand
mothers) when our children are re-
quired to stay in school half an hour
after closing time because one or two
children have disobeyed rules? The
patrol boys and traffic cops 60 of duty
at 3:15. Those who stay in have no
protection then. Twice this month
a four-street or three street intersec-
ton by children from Takoma School,
Piney Branch road. I certainly believe
in school discipline, but can't it be
done at another time?"
1t has been suggested to The Star
Council by others who have discussed
the same point that children be
punished by losing recess periods, by
being given extra home work or by
loss Of privileges rather than by being
kept In late and forced to run the
gamut of traffic without adequate pro-
lection.
"There is no mystery as to the cause
of automobile accidents-98 per cent
are caused by excessive speed. And
1t has been conclusively proven that
laws, regulations and sanctions do not
prevent excessive and reckless driving.
As a pioneer Western judge remarked
while determining a complicated case,
Now just let's forget all about law
and talk common sense Until the
Traffic Bureau or some other authority
puts governors on all automobile
engines which will automatically
throttle the speed of automobiles to q
safe limit, all of our well-meaning
promises, pledges and resolutions are
simply loss of time and energy.
wv. j. CONLYN."
Dear sir:
"Gov. Hoffman of New Jersey
quoted some interesting figures re-
Gently, at the annual meeting of the
National Safety Council in Louisville.
He said that accidents from COM
. mercial vehicles had decreased 26 per
cent, while accidents from pleasure
cars had increased 40 per cent. There
must be some reason for this striking
contrast.
rs it due to the fact that the driver
Of q commercial vehicle is afforded
full and complete visibility, in sharp
contrast to the partial or limited visi-
bility allowed the driver of pleasure
car? Or-if the driver of a CONNER
cial car is more experienced and care
ful, Is that any reason for hampering
the less experienced and careful by
types Of cars in which the field Of
vision is cut down to minimum?
eff the big motor manufacturers
Will insist on making these dangerous
cars, let the motor accessories people
hurry up with some periscopes."
e. N LA NOTE.
ION Wednesday last, at o'clock
pm, and another man wanted to
cross from west to east Mount Pleas
ant street at southwest corner, at in
tersection with Irving street. An
automobile was parked over pedes-
TRANS cross-walk so we had to de-
tour out into the street. AS we did
50 the automobile backed and struck
both Of US.
Yesterday, Friday, October IS,
took q Mount Pleasant car about 4:45
O'Clock pm. at Irving and Mount
Pleasant streets going south. At five
minutes of S pm. counted seven
Mount Pleasant cars not one minute
apart at corner of Seventeenth street
and H street routed north. Then be-
tween Seventeenth and Fourteenth
street counted six more Mount
Pleasant cars routed north also: 13
Mount Pleasant cars within less than
Is minutes, all routed north. At 5:45
o'clock pm, was back at Mount
Pleasant and Irving streets. Mount
Pleasant street cars. one after another,
came on going south. Automobiles on
Irving street from Sixteenth to inter-
section Of Mount Pleasant and Irving
streets waiting to get a chance to risk
crossing Mount Pleasant street. Pc
deStrians' chance to cross Mount
Pleasant street-none.
"Stop-Go traffic lights to safeguard
pedestrians absolutely necessary at
Mount Pleasant and Irving streets in
tersection." w. E. RYAN.