Evening star., 1938-01-18
TRUCKERS Warned
TO CUT DEATH TOLL.
Traffic Clinic Audience Told
by Schultz That Force.
May Follow.

drive death from the streets" That
is the ultimatum Representative
Schultz, Democrat of Indiana, served
on about 40 representatives Of owners
of truck fleets at the second Of the
series of his ''traffic clinics" last night
in the House ONCE Building.
The truck owners tried to explain
the IL trafic deaths charged against
truck drivers last year, when Mr..
Schultz declared:
There are no alibis for trafic
deaths last year. But this year, every
man, woman and child must unite in
q campaign to cut the death toll"
The "traffic clinics" were arranged
by Mr.. Schultz, chairman Of the Traf1ic
Subcommittee of the House District
Committee, in connection with his
move to keep the 1888 death fatality
record at . maximum Of IS. The
death toll last year was los.
Threatens Forceful Measures.
Mr.. Schultz pointed out the CO.
operation of every person who drives
q motor vehicle would first be sought,
but if that was lacking, he warned that
Congress would enact legislation to
force both drivers and pedestrians to
observe the safety regulations.
This is not q drive" he declared.
TITS not spasmodic. It's everlasting.
We don't want to force people to obey
the ordinary safety rules by legislation.
But if they won't, we'll pass the legis-
lation, and then that will be too bad"
The truck owners offered . number
Of suggestions for improving trafac
conditions, but Mr.. Schultz insisted
the greatest contribution they could
make would be to aid in eliminating
the present practice Of double parking.
Held Prime Factor.
Double parking, in fact. was de-
scribed by M. o. Eldridge, assistant
trafdc director, "as one Of the most
serious Of traf11c problems"
Mr.. Schultz pointed out that Of the
los traf1c deaths last year, 81 occurred
at intersections and 43 between inter-
sections. "And so far this year." he
said, there have been eight deaths,
one for nearly every other day"
He cited statistics showing that II
of the traffic deaths last year were
caused by trucks, 10 by taxicabs and
81 by "so-called pleasure" vehicles.
Mr.. Schultz also criticized the action
of bus and taxi drivers in stopping
head in" to curbs, and suggested that
truck owners arrange schedules which
would keep the vehicles OF the main
thoroughfares during the rush hours.
Some OF the business men have
been getting away with murder" he
declared. ITS time they found 1t out. "
Traffic Advisers Attend. s.,
Members Of the Trafnc Advisory
Council attended the meeting at Mr..
Schulte's invitation. One, selden M.
Ely, suggested that business men, in
Sam Brown belts, emulate the school,
boy safety patrol in checking acci-
dents. THE schoolboy patrol" he
said, has been remarkably effective "
Complaints were made that street
cars rushed past red lights and vio-
lated other trafdc regulations, but
| E. D. Merrill, president of the Capital
Transit Co., said plans had been made
to increase the company's plain
clothes" inspection force to check on
the violators.
Ringgold Hart, counsel for the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Associa.
ton and former principal assistant
corporation counsel Of the District
suggested q number Of plans for i'm.
proving traf1ic conditions. He agreed
with Mr.. Schultz that double parking
should be abolished, and pointed out
that commercial vehicles are allowed
to double park as 4 privilege. and
not as right" Fs+. 49,
Meanwhile, the d. c. Council Of En-.
gineering and Architectural Societie,
announced it had appointed IN Ad,
vteory Committee to consult With loca
authorities ON problems relating to ctta
planning and tradac control. IT. f1rs
task win be to study congestion at tn,
Rosslyn end Of Key Bridge. The com
mittee Is composed Of Maj. r. 8. Buck
Col. J. H. Haliihan, Maj. Gen. Masos
NJ. Patrick, retired; John Nolen. n.
and John C. Hoyt. .-.'