Evening star., 1936-10-11

Thorpe replied. "That's exactly what
we intend to avoid. Instead, we con-
template working for the enforce.
ment OF laws already existing. Our
effort will be to see II more impetus
can be given to their observance by
motorists and pedestrian alike In q
helpful spirit Of cooperation. BY an
original method never before tried In
Washington our committee is expect
ing specifically to help along this
line" Mrs. Thorpe declined to divulge
the exact details until they are
worked out more fully with city au-
thorities who look with favor on their
trial.
In this connection Mrs. Thorpe was
enthusiastic In commenting upon the
committees appreciation Of the cour-
tesy with which Maj. Ernest w.
Brown. superintendent Of police, and
William A. Van Duzer. director OF
trafic, have co-operated in placing
at their disposal helpful information
as well as the consideration which
has been given their suggestions. She
cited as instances the installation Of
trafic lights at certain dangerous
corners, the restriction of parking on
congested bus routes and at various
busy thoroughfares, the readjustment
Of stop signs and the detailing Of
police at dangerous intersections.
What she did not tell me was that
entirely without solicitation from
either Of these two departments she
has twice appeared before congress
sional hearings and with other civic
agencies had part In bringing about
an increase in the personnel Of the
trafnc division of the Metropolitan Po-
lice and Of the trafic department.
Commissioners Praised.
Mrs. Thorpe praised Commissioners
Allen, Hazen and Sultan. whose inter-
est and support have been of great
value in the various projects which
her Safety Committee has furthered.
With pride, too, she displayed . let
ter from former Judge Gus A. Schuldt,
written when he was on the Police
Court bench, saying: The oft re-
peated assertion. women have no
judgment in driving is not borne out
by the records here. If all drivers
could be imbued with the spirit which
underlieS your organization, the per-
centage OF accidents would be neg
ligible."
AS an evidence that members of this
group have safety problems on their
minds wherever they 60, my attention
was called to an authoritative, inten-
sive report on traffic conditions in the
capital cities Of Europe of compa-
rable size to Washington, which was
compiled by Mrs. Wilbur Carr while on
a visit to Europe Concerning lover
there" statistics, I noted that deaths
in London due to trafic accidents in
one year totaled 1,348 out Of popu-
lation Of 4,397,003. Mrs. Carr COM
mented that 80 great Is the English
regard for law enforcement that the
London bobby has but to raise one
finger to instantly fxate trafic. In
stinctively, ! contraSted that with our
American tendency to disregard regu-
ldttOilS Oll tllC oSOlC IlldG IiiCy dIC
excellent for the other fellow, but .
nuisance to ourselves. Significant, too,
vas the statement. illicit parking in
London Is little practiced due to the
vigilance and sufficient number of po-
lice to control this situation. and two
hours is the maximum parking time
allowed on its streets, day or night. 3"
What was the major problem Of
safety to which you addressed your
selves last year?" I asked.
THE one affecting the lives of chill
dren," Mrs. Thorpe replied.
In the IL months preceding the
committees organization, there were
696 accidents to children. Out of this
number there were these three high
marks: l4l while children were STEP
ping from behind parked cars; 140
while they were crossing streets. and
1873 while they were playing in the
streets.
As a preliminary to doing anvthinc