Evening star., 1938-01-07
RENEW 3 DRIVES
ON AUTO DEATHS
Van Duzer Details Control
Program'-Four Badly
Hurt BY Cars.


An appalling highway toll during
the last year was responsible today for
the renewal of drives on three fronts
to curb the number of traffic fatalities
and casualties in the District.
While new safety plans were being
formulated however, automobiles seri-
ously injured four persons and sent
several others to hospitals in the past
"a hours.
Launching of the campaigns fol-
lowed report by Traffic Director Will
liam A. Van Duzer that there were
nearly 1000 more accidents in 1887
than in the previous year The num-
ber Of deaths also showed an increase.
The traffic director has outlined
control program" which he believes
will materially reduce mishaps and
downtown congestion: 1t provides for:
Restriction of parking within SO
feet Of all intersections; establishment
OF \ system of pedestrian control; re-
duction of the number of taXicabs,
and staggering the hours of an addi-
tional $4,000 Government employees.
Cites Pedestrian Deaths.
Discussing the part "jay-Walkers"
play in accidents. Mr.. Van Duzer
pointed out that of the 1O6 persons
killed in traffic here last year, rs of
them were pedestrians. Stricter reg
ulations for pedestrians, he believes,
would reduce the fatality count by
25 per cent.
In a chart broken down by pre-
cinctS, Mr.. Van Duzer revealed there
were 12,706 accidents last year, as
against 1886 in 1886. No. pre-
cinct, covering the Southeast section
west of the Anacostia River. was the
only station showing decrease in
both fatalities and the total for all
accidents.
Meanwhile. Commissioner Melvin c.
Hazen, likewise expressing determina-
tion to stop slaughter" on the streets,
awaited a report by the Traffic Ad-
visory Council, now making a study OF
contributing factors in accidents.
The Commissioner said he is ready
to ask Congress for an additional
policeman for each 1887 traffic death
II the council decides more enforce
ment personnel is necessary. He said.
too, he will request more stringent
laws if that appears necessary.
Also taking a renewed interest in
Committee of the Federation of
Citizens Associations, which recon-
mended all Washington taxicab driv-
ers be finger-printed to make certain
they have no criminal records.
At meeting presided over by Harry
Wender, chairman the committee last
night heard Mr. Van Duzer talk
briefly and then made several recon-
mendations, which will be presented
at the next meeting Of the Federation.
They included: Enforcement of
pedestrian control on walk lights"
with penalties for 'jay-walking"
staggering school hours to avoid morn
ing traffic rush hours, and abolition
of parking of vans on New York
avenue NV. between New Jersey
avenue and M street.
At the same time, the committee
held that safety zones are Inadequate
throughout the city and that the
Capital Transit Co. should be ordered,
II possible, to erect modern. elevated,
lighted zones wherever congestion
warrants
The group also moved to increase
the speed limit from % to 25 miles
an hour and from 80 to IS miles an
hour in certain zones where such
action has been approved by the traffic
director.
Woman, IS, Is Victim.
Four Of the victims of the latest
accidents here may have fractured
skulls. They are Mrs. Mae Froelich,
IS. of 1923 East Capitol street Sc,
struck by an automobile at Eighth
street and Pennsylvania avenue Sc;
Sarah Galloway. ~. colored 1906
New Hampshire avenue NV. and
Hilliard Jones, 81, colored, l743 S
street NV, both knocked down by a
street car at Fourteenth and Cor
coran streets NV, when, police said,
they leaped into its path to avoid an
automobile, and Lloyd Sydnor, 80, of
346 Raleigh place Sc. hurt in an ac-
eident at East Capitol and Ninth
streets NE.
In hit-and-run accident at
Thirteenth street and Florida avenue
NV. Mrs. Bertha Shimover, 22O6
Twelfth street NV, received a broken
leg and brain conclusion.
A coroner's jury yesterday ordered
Harold w. Dixon, 25, Naval Hospital
ambulance driver, held for Police
Court action under the Negligent
Homicide Act in connection with
fatal accident December 26. The
ambulance, which was transferring
boy, whose leg was broken in another
accident. from Casualty to Children's
Hospital, was in collision at Thir-
teenth and L streets NV. with a
private machine. The impact killed
Frank P. Isaacs 80, of Baltimore a