Evening star., 1936-09-27

and should be made effective wltho,
Authority~-for the change in the
entirely with the Board of Education. .
The proposal has been brought to the
attention of its members and they are
expected to act by the first Of Octo-
Der. 1t Is to be hoped that they act
by then and that the result will be
favorable A poll was taken last
Spring among the parents Of the
school children and favorable support
was received.
The Public Utilities Commission
and heads of the local transit and
bus companies also have approved.
Therefore, with no opposition regis
tered up until now, there seems no
legitimate reason why the conter-
plated change should not be mace.
The Carpenter Traffic Survey Com
mittee, after a long study, Endorsed
the matter most heartily.
The change would separate the
Journeys of the children from the
morning rush of the Government
employees and other officeholders
From 8:15 to o'clock is the peak
each morning. At $50 is the worst
time of the day. The average time
it takes the child to go to school is
from Is to 20 minutes.
Unquestionably, if the children left
their homes after the congestion was
over, they could go in greater safety.
Better accommodations then could be
provided for them on the street cars
and busses. Then, too, the police, who
during the peak hour of traffic are me-
cessitated to direct traffic at busy in
tersections, could take new stations
near the various schools and offer
greater protection to the children.
minor consideration is that it
would give many mothers more time
to get their children ready for school.
Teachers would also benefit. Surveys
show that few parents drive their chill
dren to school while on their way to
work. SO there would be little objec-
ton from that source. Half an hour
later in the afternoons in being dis
missed from school should In no way
interfere with the scheme of things.
Enough time to play would still exist.
William A. Van DuZer, director of
the Department of Motor Vehicles and
Traffic, praises the change in no un-
certain words.
Il believe" he states, that it will
prove to be one of the best safety
moves in recent years. Relieving con-
gestion decreases hazards. 1t is the
primary duty of my department to
make Washington as safe as possible,
and this particularly applies to chill
dren. This proposed plan, feel sure,
will go long way in giving them
greater protection. am interested
in safety and hope the whims of few,
If they do exist, will not deter the put
ting into effect this proposed plan to
change the hours of school here"
Meanwhile, with the opening Of
schools last week, motorists are urged
to do their part at all times in being
specially cautious when nearing chill
dren or school zones. Children at
times are thoughtless. for which they
can be excused. A motorist cannot
be excused.
Another move for safety, more gen.
eral in effect, and more national in
organization, will be gotten under way
when the National Safety Council and
phalanxes of its followers to the num-
ber of about $4,000 will convene at
Atlantic City October to to plot
the saving of careless Americans from
the fruit of their stubbornness and
3oolhardy habits.
Considering high death figures in
auto accidents, what has been done?
Legislation requiring periodic motor
vehicle inspection has been enacted
in IA States. Safety" glass through
out autos sold within State boun-
daries is required by % States.
Drivers license laws are effective in
"a States-Standard in Is States.
Safety responsibility laws are effec-
tive in q States and the District of
Columbia, and cover about go per cent
of the Nations 100000 motor We
hicles. The uniform vehicle code is
effective in at least 36 States.
Highway authorities say approxi-
mately 974,949 of the Nations $685.
254 miles of streets and roads have
been improved, but that about $12,.
000,000,000 is needed to bring the en-
tire system into safe construction
Uniform traffic signs and signals are
being installed in hundreds of cities
and States.
The Automobile Manufacturers AS
sociation recently recommended to
members that they eliminate reference
to top-speed possibilities in all their
advertising.
Thirty-one States have permanent
Statewide organizations promoting
traffic safety through engineering
studies, public and school education
and strict traffic law enforcement.
What remains to be done in this
field? Principally the extension of
every effort thus far undertaken.
motorist and Pedestrian with an at
titude for safety" Research still seeks
further improvement in all-weather,
ron-skid tires and road surfaces; fuel
combustion without carbon monoxide
gas; the feasibility of rural highway
lighting, and sidewalks for rural Pc
destrians
All railroad grade crossings will be
eliminated in the golden age. There
will be elevated highways, separate
routes for truck and passenger trafdc,
no blind intersections and a network
of fine farm-to-market roads to take
100000 farm vehicles 'out of the
mud"
w. H. Cameron, managing director
Of the council, has said that the ex-
position held with the congress will
be the greatest assemblage of safety
devices and equipment ever brought
together Exhibits will be arranged in
two groups, industrial and public
safety, and will include displays of
everything imaginable for the protec-
ton of human beings from accidents
and the safeguarding of vehicles and
machinery from faulty operation. =
Automobile production for the cur