Evening star., 1938-01-12
RADIO AND MOVIES
ENLISTED TO AID
TRAFFIC SAFETY
Plans Mapped for Campaign
to Hold 1888 Fatalities
to Maximum of IS.
STRICT ENFORCEMENT
DEMANDS ARE VOICED
Representative Schultz to Con.
tinue Parleys With Groups
to Coordinate Drive.

Radio station executives, motion
picture theater owners and police and
traffic officials united with the traffic
subcommittee of the House District
Committee last night in planning an
intensive and continuous safety CAM
paign designed to reduce the 1888
traffic fatality record to a maximum of
35. The death toll last year was 1O6.
Officials of the radio stations agreed
to broadcast details of every traffic
accident involving fatality with
view to keeping residents of the Dis.
trict traffic safety-minded. The mo-
ton picture theater owners promised
to run "trailers" at every show en-
phasiZing the necessity for careful
driving by motorists and proper cross
ing of street intersections by pedes-
trians.
Plans for the campaign were de-
veloped at conference in the Office
of Representative Schultz, Democrat.
OF Indiana. chairman of the traffic
subcommittee. Members of the sub
committee who assisted him are
Representatives Quinn, Democrat. of
Pennsylvania, and Short of Missouri
and Shafer of Michigan, both Re-
publicans.
Many Proposals Weighed.
A number of other proposals. all
aimed to achieve the subcommittee
goal, were taken under consideration.
These included:
frightening of enforcement of the
traffic regulations, especially with
respect to speeding and reckless driv-
ing.
2-Abolition of all parking In the
congested section.
3+Prohibition against both right
and left turns in the business area.
Adoption of a regulation prohib-
iting "jaywalking." and arrest of the
violators.
5-Strict enforcement of the regula-
ton forbidding double parking.
Representative Schultz also an
nounced the subcommittee would give
serious consideration to other pro-
posals to promote safe driving. One
of these contemplates requiring every
driver who kills person to view the
body at the morgue Another is to
award a safer drivers" sticker for
windshield display to every taMcab
operator who is not involved in
traffic accident during a year.
Jaywalkers Blamed.
Various causes of traffic accidents
were discussed during the conference,
and much of the blame was laid on
the careless pedestrian who Jay
walks" Complaint was made partic-
ularly by Traffic Director William A.
Van Duzer about the driving habits
of taxicab and bus operators.
Buses and taxis are just like
ostriches." he declared. They stick
their heads into curb when stopping
to pick up and discharge passengers "
Inspector William E. Holmes. in
charge of the Police Departments
traffic force, urged substantial in
crease in motor cycle officers as the
most potent factor in curbing reckless
and careless driving.
Mr.. Schultz said he proposed to
enlist in the campaign every agency
that can aid in making the streets
safer and educating the public in
traffic safety. Owners of truck fleets
are to be called in for a conference
Monday at 1880 pm, and later next
week taxi drivers are to be summoned
to listen to a sermon from Mr.. Schultz
on driving courtesy.
Demands Cooperation.
"We must keep the death rate down
this year." declared Mr.. Schultz.
The police have agreed to be tough
in enforcing trafic regulations. We
are determined to make Washington
traffic safety conscious, and the people
who either walk or drive may as we'll
make up their minds to Cooperate
with us"
Those who attended the conference
included Maj. Ernest w. Brown, super
intendent Of police; Inspector L. I. H.
Edwards, assistant superintendent;
Jess Willard, manager OF WJsV; Mad
cline Ensign, program director Station
VOL: William McAndrews, news edi-
tor Of WRC and WMAL; M. o. Ed
ridge, assistant traffic director; c.
Melvin Sharpe, member OF the Traffic
Safety Council. and A. Julian Bry-
lawsky, president Of the Theater
Owners Association.