Evening star., 1936-02-04
CUT IN LIGHTING
RAISED AUTO TOLL,
COMMITTEE TOLD
EIdridge Says Accidents at
Night Increased SO Per
Cent by Economy.
REDUCTION IN TAXICABS
URGED BY VAN DUZER
Representative Carpenter Stresses
Part of Speed in Growing
Fatalities in District.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

SuANNs
Dark highways resulting from a
reduction in the appropriation for
street lighting was blamed today by
M. o. Eldridge. assistant director of
traffic, for considerable" increase
In Washington's traffic accident rate.
Testifying before a special SUBJ
committee of the House District Com
mittee investigating traffic conditions,
Eldridge pointed out there had been
an increase of SO per cent in night
accidents since the electrical depart
ment of the District was forced to
curtail its street Illumination pro-
gram in 1884 In the same period,
he said, the trend of daytime acci-
dents increased only 20 per cent.
Eldridge also told the subcommittee
there has been a marked increase in
night accidents on the Mount YER
non Boulevard, which has been dark
ened for several years because of the
lack of an appropriation for illumina-
ton.
Van Duzer Testifies.
Eldridge took the witness stand after
Traffic Director William A. Van Duzer
had urged reduction in the number
of taxicabs operating in the District.
Such step, he declared, would mate
rally improve the traffic situation.
Van Duzer also disclosed that driv-
ers ranging between 20 and 81 years
Of age constitute the dangerous
group"-that they are responsible for
ATS per cent of all traffic accidents.
Van Duzer pointed out there are
1000 licensed taxis in the District
one for each 125 per capita of popula-
tion-and that these cabs constitute
81 per cent of all vehicular traffic No
other city in the world, he said, has as
many taxis per capita of population.
Boston, which ranks second in this
respect. he testified, has one cab for
each 500 persons.
Only 748 in 1928.
"In my Judgment Van Duzer de-
clared, there are too many taxi
cabs in Washington. They contribute
to congestion, especially in the down.
town area. I think the public could
be adequately served with a smaller
number of cabs"
Van Duzer said the number OF taxi
cabs had increased from TAB in 1928
to 1000 last year.
Representative Carpenter, Democrat,
of Kansas, who is directing the traf-
fic study, conducted the examination
Of Van Duzer. He repeatedly ex-
pressed the opinion that speed is the
cause of many of Washington's traf-
flc fatalities.
Carpenter opened the second days
hearing by questioning Van Duzer
about the cause of accidents to pedes-
trians. The traffic director had prev
iously testified that pedestrians are
involved in about 20 per cent of all
accidents.
"Jaywalkers" in Majority.
A statistical chart was introduced
by Van Duzer showing that the great
est number of accident to pedes-
trians occurred between intersections.
In 1888, 460 "jaywalkers" were in
jured; in 1894, 534, and 1885, 576.
Carpenter asked if any effort had
been made to prevent "jaywallking."
Van Duzer replied the District does
not have a pedestrian control regu-
lation.
Carpenter next inquired whether
pedestrians should be regulated. "It
would SEEM" Van Duzer began, but
he was unable to complete the answer
because of another question as to the
cause of pedestrian accidents.
The traffic director did answer that
one fully. lover one half of these
accidents" he declared, ARE due to
the pedestrian being careless"
Returning to the number of pedes-
trians killed in traffic accidents, Car
penter declared, why should all the
blame be placed on the pedestrian?
believe speed Is the cause of many
accidents
Speed One Factor.
'Yes, that is q contributing fac
tor" agreed Van Duzer.
In that connection, Van Duzer
pointed out, there had been a marked
reduction in accidents and speeding
since driving permits of speeders have
, been suspended. He also cited q re-
cent experiment conducted by his de-
partment to show that speeding and
other traffic violations save little time.
He said driver left Chevy Chase
Circle and drove to the Capitol,
( distance of about 8 miles, and OBJ
served all regulations. The same
driver then repeated the trip, violating
many regulations, except passing red
lights, and saved only 8 minutes.