Evening star., 1938-08-06
Traffic
Continued From First Page.)

called attention to the death toll
among children and declared "some-
thing drastic must be done"
Motorists. parents. children and
you policemen" he added, must share
the responsibility Of making our streets
safe!"
Representatives of business and
welfare groups in the Southeast section
met last night at Friendship House
to plan their part in the safety drive.
1t was agreed that the first and most
important step was to improve the
present playground facilities and to
provide tor more. 1t was pointed out
that in the whole area there are only
three Fairgrounds and three school
yards, and that most districts which
need Fairgrounds have none.
Committee Appointed.
A committee was appointed to study
the present facilities and make recon-
mendations to Julius Hammack Of the
City-Wide Playground Association.
Appointed to the committee were Miss
Matilde Williams. H. STARS, DR.. Ho-
mer K. Butler, Miss Fannie Granton
and Miss Mary Edith Coulson.
Spokesman at the meeting said
Marion Park at Fourth street and
South Carolina avenue Sc. creates
serious traffic hazard because it is
full of children all day and is not
an official playground. A request will
be made that the park be provided
with equipment and play directors
and that the Police Department pro-
vide safety supervision.
A safety talk was given last night
by Capt. Harvey G. Callahan, COM
mander of No. precinct, at a meet
ing Of the Washington Accident Pre-
vention Institute of the Junior Board
Of Commerce at Station WDPW, the
police broadcasting unit.
Capt. Callahan praised the new
law which stops parking well back
from intersections and thus increases
the angle of vision of motorists ap-
preaching the corners. The precinct
commander warned motorists not to
start on the amber light, but to wait
until the light turns green. Many
accidents are caused, he said. when
vehicles hurrying across an intersec-
ton on a green light are unable to
stop in time to avoid cars starting
on the amber signal.
Girl, 5, Is Injured.
The meeting was presided over by
Joseph Kadens, chairman of the
Traffic Education Subcommittee,
Junior Board of Commerce.
One of the few injuries reported in
the last 48 hours occurred when S.
year-old Helen Williams. colored.
1852 Sixth street NV, was run
down last night as she stepped from
between two parked cars near her
home. She suffered head injuries
and a broken left leg. The car. police
reported, was driven by Richard Law,
81. colored, 600 block of s street NV.
Two traffic inquests were to be held
by a coroner's jury this afternoon.
One death to be investigated is that
of william Baylor, So, colored. 324
c street S.W., who was hit by a car
july 80 in the 200 block of Fourth
street S. w.
His death, which occurred at Emer-
pency Hospital yesterday. brought the
1888 traffic toll in Washington to 58-
five short Of the fatalities at the same
time last year.
The second inquest will be In the
death of George E. Slaughter, A, COL
ored, 163OH Tenth street N.W- who
was killed Wednesday night at North
Capitol and o streets by an automobile
which ran down and injured two other
colored pedestrians.
The driver of the death car has not
been apprehended. He is believed to
be a l9-year-old colored youth, who
drove the two injured men to Freed
mems Hospital, left without making
known his identity and abandoned his
car after it crashed into two parked
automobiles.
Eldridge Sees Results.
M. o. Eldridge, acting director OF
traffic, expressed the opinion today
that the safety campaign being con-
Quoted by the police, the newspapers
and various civic and welfare groups
already is showing splendid results.
Mr.. Eldridge said that in driving to
and from work he has observed that
children are being kept from playing
on the streets for the first time in his
memory Until recently, he said, he
never passed through certain residen-
tial areas without seeing one or sew
eral children darting into the streets
while at play.
II hope the lesson Is not tempo
rary one, to be forgotten as soon as
the publicity dies down." Mr. Eldridge
said.