Evening star., 1935-09-02
death HIGHWAY"
CLOSING FAVORED.
Attorney for Victims Estate
Criticizes State for Neg
Iecting Road.

II would be better for the public II
the Defense Highway were closed than
kept open in its present condltlon,
Joseph Rafferty,, attorney for the es-
tate of one of the victims Of the high
vay's worst accident, said today.
While Rafferty, was enunciating the
sentiments of those VINO have had the
highways horrors brought home most
keenly, the official heads of the towns
at its termini urged its improvement
'in the name of public safety"
Rafferty, represents the estate OF
John T. Mccarthy, Washington res
taurant proprietor, driver OF the car
whose five occupants were killed when
It collided with a bus on the slippery
Defense Highway near Collington Au-
gust 20.
Calls Road a Disgrace.
Having made a personal inspection
of the death trap where the bus-auto
and numerous other fatal collisions
occurred, he termed the conditions OF
the road most disgraceful."
"It is difficult to believe" he said,
"that Maryland would so neglect its
roads as to permit four-inch gullies
to develop beside the shoulders on
one of its main highways. 1t took
five deaths to arouse the authorities
to action, for it was only after the ac-
cident that the shoulders were re-
paired.
There still are many other places
on the road where dangerous condi-
tions obtain for the same reason and
there will be similar tragedies unless
they are corrected.
0The curve near the pOln Of the
collision is typical of many on the
highway. Going toward Annapolis a
driver cannot see a car coming to-
ward Washington until 1t has actually
eliminated and the highway widened
1t could be made reasonably safe. AS
1t is, the public would be better off If
the road we're closed"
Beattie Points to Congestion.
w. R. Beattie, chairman of the
Bladensburg town commissioners. said
that If the State roads authorities
think the road is adequate they should
spend few hours in Bladensburg any
Sunday evening. From his home on
the Decatur Heights hill Commissioner
Beattie has seen many accidents due
to the slippery surface and watched
the congestion grow from year to year.
Every day Improvements are de-
1ayed conditions grow worse" he said.
More casualties are to be expected
unless an improvement program is be-
gun at once"
Louis N. Phipps, mayor of Annapo-
lis, the only other town on the high
way. asserted most of the accidents on
"Death Highway" were due to the con-
dition of the road, and predicted they
could be reduced at least so per cent if
1t were widened and Strengthened.
Advocates Width of 80 Feet.
"When the State Roads Commission
declares the road is adequate 1t is
merely expressing the opinion Of the
State Roads Commission. Experience
has demonstrated that it is not ade-
quate, that it Is extremely dangerous
even to the careful driver It should
be widened and Strengthened to a
width of 80 feet.
"The driver Of the car in which
i've persons were killed did what any
careful driver would do. He drove
far to the side, on the shoulder, to
give the bus, which his car eventually
hit, room to pass.
Il feel that know how this
accident occurred because I have had
similar experiences on the road. I
feel that I am especially qualified
to talk about the road because I am
in the automobile business and very
large part of our trade comes from
accidents on the Defense Highway.
We get them every week end.
Few Reckless Driving Cases.
''The belief that the accidents are
due to the condition of the road is
supported by the fact that there are
few convictions for reckless driving
on 1t. Fewer, should say, than on
any other highway in the State.
Its Improvement is, to my mind,
one of the most urgently needed
projects in the State If it is not
improved responsibility must be ac-
cepted by the Roads Commission for
the accidents which are certain to
occur in the future. There Is not the
remotest doubt that in the name of
public safety the road should be
widened and Strengthened. It is not a
minor thoroughfare that can be ig-
nored. 1t is a major highway and