Evening star., 1936-11-30
ID. c. TRAFFIC TOLL.
FALLS AS FIGURES
FOR NATION RISE
Fatality Rate Here 20 Per
Cent Below 1885 and 80
Under 1884 Mark.
VAN DUZER PRAISES
AID OF NEWSPAPERS
U. S. Death Rate Is Expected to
Set All-Time Record Of
$500.

this year Is expected to set an all-time
record of 37,500, the fatality rate in
Washington shows 20 per cent de-
crease compared with last year and q
80 per cent decrease compared with
the year before.
High up among the factors which
brought a marked downward trend
in fatal accidents in Washington
during the past two years, Traffic Di-
rector William A. Van Duzer placed
the sustained publicity campaign car
ried on by the newspapers.
The policy of publishing the names
of drivers whose driving permits were
suspended or revoked. inaugurated by
The Star nearly a year ago, came IN
for especial mention by Van Duzer.
THE suspension of permits for first
offense speeding, and increasing pen-
alties for second and third offenses,
according to the rate Of speed, is one
of the most effective remedies We have
found for cutting down accidents"
Van Duzer declared.
THE policy would not have been
nearly as effective, however, if the
motorist were not faced with the cer-
tainty that the conviction would be-
come public knowledge"
Praises Safety Campaign.
Van Duzer also praised the safety
campaign conducted by The Star last
year. and which he believed was par-
TALLY responsible for the lower fatality
list in 1885, compared with 1884.
The fatality list today stands at 81
as compared with 102 the same day
last year, and 118 the same day in
1884, Van Duzer explained.
The old method of stressing safety
in sporadic drives has proved inef-
fective. To inculcate safe driving
habits requires constant effort and
repetition. We can't let the motoriss
forget for moment that careful driv.
ing will save lives, perhaps his own,"
he said.
The prediction that the traffic toll
for 1886 would reach an all-time high
of $500 came yesterday from the Ma
tional Safety Council in Chicago In
an Associated Press report.
The organization counted $3.50 ia.
talities in October. 2 per cent in.
crease over the $3.50 recorded in the
same month last year.
1t estimated 29,850 lives were lost
during the first 10 months Of this year.
/ per cent more than the 29,680 who
died in the similar 1885 period.
Statistician r. l.. Forney pointed
to the growing number of persons who
walked into trouble" as major fac.
tor in the upswing.
Pedestrian Accidents Increase.
Fatal accidents involving pedes-
trians increased about per cent.
while other types of motor vehicle
mishaps dropped approximately l per
cent.
The most unfavorable" trend was
found in a 10 per cent advance over
1885 in the deaths of victims between
the ages of 5 and IA.
The problem was termed most acute
in small towns and on the open road.
While per cent reduction in ia
talities in all reporting cities during
the first 10 months of 1886 showed
metropolitan safety campaigns had
slowed the slaughter.
Record Peak in 1885.
Motor vehicle deaths reached rec.
ord peak of $1,000 in 1885.
Forney saw two favorable aspects
in the 1896 situation.
Granting 500 more fatalities would
be registered this year, the increase
would still be less than that recorded
in recent years. The 1885 total was
900 greater than 1884, and the 1884
total nearly 5000 larger than 1888.
Taking a 10 per cent increase in
gasoline consumption into considera-
ton, he figured the death rate per
| 10000 900 gallons in 1886 was per
cent below 1885.
A new safety education program.
consisting of lectures to be delivered
In December by Mrs. George c. Thorpe
before Community Centers throughout
the city, was launched today at a
meeting of the Community Center
Department staff in the Franklin
Building.
|
bile Association in the campaign was
pledged by Russell E. Singer. general
manager, who accompanied Mrs.
Thorpe.
Stating her belief that the mental
attitude of the pedestrian is respon.
sible for many accidents, Mrs. Thorpe
said that she expected to include in
her lectures a survey of the present
traffic era as a whole. She likened
traffic hazards Of modern civilization
to primitive dangers confronting pre-.
historic animals, and urged the de.
velopment Of o defense mechanism
as the best means of protection. This,
she explained, should be an attitude
of mind characterized by the slogan,
Caution and Courtesy"
Mrs. Thorpe also advocated the use
in schools Of films visualizing the
dangers of careless driving and em-
phasizing the necessity for Observing
caution and courtesy.
Attending the meeting were DR..
Frank w. Ballou, DR.. Harvey A. Smith,
DR.. Garnet c. Wilkinson, Mrs. z. X.
Peoples, Mrs. Mabel Clark. Mrs. M.
G. Combs, Mrs. M. w. Davis, Mrs. M.
e. Ellis, Miss A. l.. Goodwin, Mrs. L.
w. Hardy, Mrs. Edith H. Hunter, Mrs.
A. L. Irving, Miss Eta johnson, Mrs.
c. j. Knox, Mrs. Sadie Marie, Mrs. D.
E. Middleton. Harold Snyder, Miss A.
G. Woodward and Mrs. Louise Wynne.