Evening star., 1937-05-14
GROUNDWORK LAID
FOR NEW TRAFFIC
PLAN FOR DISTRICT
Safety System Successful
in Other Cities Outlined
at Banquet.
LIEUT.. KREML GIVES
RESUME OF PROGRAM
Citizens Must Take Attitude Of
Responsibility to Cut Accidents,
Expert Declares.

The groundwork for establishment
in " ashington of a traffic accident
prevention system which has brought
about marked improvement in traffic
safety in more than a dozen other
cities was laid last night by Federal
and District officials and representa-
tives Of civic organizations, motor
clubs, schools, trade associa tions and
other groups.
This step was taken at a banquet
at the Willard Hotel Immediately after
the distinguished gathering heard
Lieut.. Franklin M. Kreml, one of the
Nations foremost authorities on traf-
fic control and accident prevention,
outline the system which he first in
augurated in Evanston, III.
Lieut.. Krenl, whose record In saw
ing lives and promoting highway safety
won him the C. I. T. Safety Founda-
tons $4,000 prize for outstanding ac-
complishments" in the field Of traffic
during 1886, declared Washington
traffic control problem can be solved,
but will not be until the people actu-
ally determine that it shall be solved"
The youthful expert said one OF the
basic reasons the Capitals traffic
safety situation has not improved is
that the citizens are selfish" in plac-
ing their own social relations, motives
and business before the general good
Of the city.
Responsible Attitude Needed.
I'VE must take an attitude of re-
sponsibility toward the problem" he
declared. ''We need to regard en-
forcement Of regulations as desirable
Tor ourselves as well as others-and
not always be putting the other mans
lace IN the picture instead of our own"
One of the first steps in his control
system, Lieut. Kreml explained, is the
establishment of an organized, we'll
balanced and informed committee rep
resentative of the Washington citi-
zenry, which would formulate a def
mite program for dealing with the
problem.
An adequate motor cycle police
corps OF trained men, rigid enforce
ment of traffic regulations, a special
police detail to make a thorough in
vest ,tion of all accidents to deter
mine whether a traffic violation was
! factor, an extensive educational pro-
| gram for children as we'll as adults and
continuing engineering program are
other steps to be taken under Lieut..
Kremls system.
There must be no element OF cam
paigning in this work" he said. Il
believe the situation here can be i'm
proved. But whether or not 1t will
be done depends upon the citizens
whether they will demand such a pro-
gram, whether they will support it
, and make the sacrifices that will be
necessary if the plan is to work.
Senator King Urges Program.
Immediately after the enforcement
otflcer's talk, Senator King, Democrat,
OF Utah, chairman of the Senate Dis.
trlct Committee, urged that steps be
taken at once to put the plan into
operation. This was followed by in.
PRODUCTION OF a resolution by Harry
S. Wender, chairman of the Safety
Committee of the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations, asking that small
committee be named to begin the
work OF forming 3 Citizens Traffic
Council.
The resolution was adopted unani-
mously and Eugene Meyer, publisher
OF the Washington Post, was named
temporary chairman of the Organiz-
ing Committee. When the question Of
financing the work of the citizens
group was raised, Senator King prom
ised that Congress would provide
whatever the Commissioners recon-
mended as necessary in the work.
In his opening remarks, Lieut..
Kreml declared he believed the traffic
control problem surpasses any other
facing the Nation today. He called
attention to the $1,000 traffic deaths
during 1896, and declared that at the
current rate, this years fatalities
probably will number 10000.
Besides all the deaths, he said,
100000 persons were injured and
10 per cent of this number perma-
nently incapacitated. More than
$4,000, 100000 worth of property was
destroyed last year by traffic mishaps.
Among others attending the ban
quet were Chairman Collins of the
House subcommittee on District ap-
preparations, Senator Thomas OF Okla
homa, chairman of the Senate sub
committee on District appropriations:
Traffic Director William A. Van Duzer.
Police Supt. Ernest w. Brown and
Commissioner Dan 1. Sultan.