Evening star., 1937-08-12
PARKING LIMITED,
HELP Of PARENTS
ASKED FOR SAFETY
Edridge Makes Restrictions
for Block Where Levy Boy
Was Fatally Hurt.
PLEA is MADE TO KEEP
CHILDREN OFF STREETS
Blame for Accidents Laid in Part
on Those Who Let Youngsters
Play in Roadway.

After agreeing to limit parking to
one side of the street in the 1900 block
Of Tventy-eighth street. where citizens
last week became aroused following
the fatal injury of child Acting
Traffic Director NJ O. Eldridge today
voiced a strong plea to parents to CO.
operate in the safety campaign now
in progress by keeping their children
from playing in the street
Parents should realize" Eldridge
declared, lit is more dangerous to
play in or to cross many of our streets
than it would be to play on or cross
the railroad tracks
The decision to restrict parking on
the east side of Twenty-eighth street,
from Cathedral avenue to Cortland
place, was revealed by Eldridge in a
letter to Bernard L. Wilmer, 1898
Iwenty-eight street, one of the sign
ers of a petition forwarded Tuesday
to the traffic directors office
In announcing no-parking signs will
be erected as soon as possible,
Eldridge's letter stated
AZ lHlS SoilIleNblOll utSlIe W Cd 10
the attention of yourself and others
who signed this petition the following
facts: Our records show that no ac-
cident has been reported by the police
for this particular block since 1882. eX-
cept the one in which Richard Levy,
the 4year-old son of Mr.. S. Frank
Levy, was unfortunately killed. 1 very
much doubt whether the restriction
which has been agreed upon will en-
tirely cure the situation, in SO far as
small children are concerned. unless
the parents teach their children to eX-
ercise greater care when crossing the
streets.
Last year there were 109 people
killed in traffic accidents in Wash
ington-97 of these by automobiles.
OF this 81. 80 were pedestrians and
OF the 80, 46 were crossing the street
In the middle of the block Two of
the As were small children playing
IN the street Eight of the as were
d school age and under, One was
under S years of age.
II think that the parents of small
children in Washington should real
tRs that it is more dangerous to play
IN or to cross many of our streets
than 1t would be to play on or cross
the railroad tracks. Streets are in
tanded for vehicles, except at the
crosswalks, where pedestrians have
Legal right to cross and are entitled
to legal protection.
The death of this little boy should
bring this situation home to every
person in Washington-young and old
and especially to the parents of
small children"
The petition sent to Traffic Director
William A. Van Duser, who is out of
the city at present, had warned the
tyaf1lc head full responsibility for
future accidents would rest with him
II he continued to disregard their plea
for limited parking on Twenty-eighth
street.
AS the safety drive 'entered it's sec
ond week today, Inspector L. l. H. Ed
wards, acting superintendent of police,
revealed there has been a decrease
in traffic accidents since the cam
paign got under way.
In the past seven days "a persons
received minor injuries, a decrease
Of II, as compared with the previous
week. Accidents fell off also from
227 to 214. Two fatalities, both in
volving children, have been recorded
since the drive started. however, and
Edwards warned motorists there vii!
be no let-up in rigid enforcement of
regulations.