Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-01-26

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man If the committee is Bishop James
e. Freeman. other members Of which
are John Vandgrift, Clarence Ahalt,
Edward S. Brashears and William I.
Cleveland.
After pointing out the National
Capitals unflattering traffic fatality
rate, 221 deaths per 100000 popula-
ton, the board points out:
Despite all efforts at improvement,
trafiic delays and congestion have been
growing steadily worse in the Nations
Capital. This is equally true as re-
CARDS mass transportation. Studies
recently made by the American Auto
mobile Association disclosed that dur
ing peak hours, traffic speeds on
number of our major arteries vary
from 81 to 14.8 miles per hour. indi-
eating, Of course, serious maladjust-
ment as to street facilities and their
use.
while there are numerous reasons
for these conditions, it is patent that
one major reason IS the new concen-
tration Of Federal workers in the So
called Triangle area, a development
which has meant much to the city
from an esthetic standpoint, which
was carried out with little regard to
the transportation problems thus
created"
AS . primary step In the correction
of the situation, the board recon-
mends to the Senate committee that
comprehensive traffic survey shall be
undertaken. Suggesting that COM
petent specialists shall be employed
for this purpose, it is urged that the
scope Of the survey shall include the
entire traffic and transportation needs
Of metropolitan Washington and the
relation thereto Of the future building
and development program Of the Fed
eral City. The two broad detectives
Of the study, the board says, should be:
First. to develop methods for OBJ
tanning the most efficient and safe
use Of existing traffic facilities.
Second, to provide long-range plans
for the future traffic needs and the
proper migration Of these needs with
the building program of the city.
Other recommendations include:
Set Up Co-ordinating Authority
There is great need for representa-
tive authority. equipped and able to
coordinate the activities Of approx
mately q dozen Federal agencies and
numerous civic and business organiza-
tions-all Of them in one way or
another concerned with or dabbling
with traffic, transportation and the
future development Of metropolitan
Washington. It would be part Of the
function OF this authority to develop
and submit to the appropriate official
or body reasonable program for
correcting the evils Of the present
situation.
Strengthen Enforcement Facilities
Effective enforcement, which is one
Of the keys to the situation, Is seri-
ously handicapped by the lack Of
personnel for trafac duty tn the Police
Department.
Washington needs additional per.
sonnet In trafdc police work, especially
for mobile patrol duty and compre-
hensive accident investigation. It is
necessary to make provision for more
adequate training Of trafilc officers.
Steps should be taken to prevent the
removal Of officers from their regular
duties to special "details" which, I'M
der existing conditions, take an un-
warranted amount Of their time. The
major and superintendent of police
has asked for Is additional men for
traffic duty. It is our opinion that he
has underestimated rather than over
estimated his needs.
Increase Traffic Department Person.
nel.-What Is true Of the Police De-
partment Is equally true as regards
the ONCE Of the Director Of Vehicles
and Trafhc. The lack of personnel
and funds Is seriously interfering
with the handling Of vital matters
with which that Office is charged, and
this condition should be corrected.
The duties in connection with the adj
ministration Of the safety-responsi-
bility law. enacted by the last session
Of Congress, have increased the
necessity for supplementing the per-
sonnet Of the bureau in the interest
Of effective enforcement Of this i'm
portant safety legislation.
Ban Fixing" BEFORE Court Pro-
cedure.-The judicial handling Of
traffic cases in the District is sorely
In need Of improvement, principally
In the matter of speeding up, which
could be accomplished by providing
for one or more additional judges.
In this connection, consideration
might very well be given to the FEAST
bility Of designating one Judge to
preside continuously over the Traf1c
Court. This would promote uniform
procedure and q uniform standard
for tn. determination Of penalties
tor various offenses.
There should be an absolute ban
on the fixing" of tickets for traffic
violations. Imposing or waving of
penalties should be done in open court
by the presiding Judge after q full
hearing Experience Of cities such
as Milwaukee and Evanston, which
have adopted this policy, has in
Dictated q steady improvement in
enforcement.
Sti6en Penalties for Drunken Driy-
ang.-District Of Columbia laws for
dealing with persons convicted Of
driving while under the influence Of
liquor are inadequate. The minimum
Ane for q first o11ense in the District
= one cent, whereas the National
Conference on Street and Highway
Safety recommends 500. The maxi
mum fine In the District Is $500, where
- the National Conference recon-
nends $1,000. For the flrst offense.
the minimum optional jail sentence
IN the District Is one day, whereas
the National Conference recommends
10 days. The maximum Jail sentence
n six months, whereas the National
Conference recommends one year.
For the second offense. the National
Conference recommends . mandatory
jail sentence. whereas the District