Evening star., 1939-04-02
Alarmed Leaders
Study Ways 10 Cut
Traffic Deaths
Campaign Of Education
Possible; Committees
Plan Meetings

Aroused by the alarming" per-
centage OF traffic deaths among
adult pedestrians who do not drive
automobiles, District officials and
civic leaders last night launched a
study Of ways and means to save
more Of these persons from the
deadly hazards of the street.
A campaign of education was
agreed to as one of the most appar-
ent and direct possibilities. Details
OF such education were given con-
sideration yesterday, and committee
meetings probably will be held soon.
District Commissioner Melvin c.
Hazen, Maj. Ernest w. Brown, su-
perintendent of police; Traffic Di-
rector William A. Van Duzer and
Edwin S. Hege, chairman of a spe-
cial Safety Committee of the Traffic
Advisory Council, were among those
impressed by the figures disclosed
last week in survey of traffic
deaths. They agreed something :.
should be done.
The survey showed that more than
90 per cent of the adult pedestrians
killed in traffic accidents here dur
ing the last four years did not carry
drivers permits. The percentage
rose to 95.6 in 1898.
Committee to Meet.
Most definite of the remedial steps
Is that to be taken soon by the
special Safety Promotion Commit
tee of the Traffic Advisory Council
Committee Chairman Hege, declar-
ing last night he was amazed" and
surprised at the high percentage
of deaths in this particular group,
announced he is calling a meeting
of his committee within a week to
take up this and other safety
problems.
Several persons will be invited to
sit with the committee, Mr.. Hege
announced. including Maj. Brown,
Mr.. Van Duzer, DR.. Ballou, super
intendent of schools, and public
welfare officials.
Commissioner HaZen regarded the
results of the survey as serious.
"The best thing we can do about
It, he declared, "is education"
have to be worked out, the Com
missioner said, probably through
popular public campaign or in CO.
operation with the organized citi-
zenry and the Traffic Advisory
Council.
Mr.. Hazen conferred for some
time with Mr.. Hege yesterday. They |
discussed several possible avenues |
Of approach to the problem.
Lectures by Judges.
One possibility under considera- |
ton for bringing the dangers of |
the streets closer to the pedestrians, |
Mr.. Hazen suggested, would be in |
court, during prosecution of pedes-
trians for violation of the new Pc
destrian traffic regulations. A lee
ture by the judge probably would
have some effect, the Commission !
er said.
AS to the prospects Of school
for pedestrians" advanced infor- |
mally from some quarters, the Com |
missioner questioned the advisable |
ity OF such a proposal. Eve can't /
make the people go to school, he |
said. Voluntary action through the |
peoples own organizations. such as
the Federation of Citizens ASSocia-
tions and others, he thought, would
be more effective than any forcible
attempt at schooling or even VOL
untary school for pedestrians"
Maj. Brown said he believed the
survey had disclosed one of the
vital spots in the problem. He has
conferred at length with Mr.. Van
Duzer on the matter.
The superintendent of police be-
lieves with Commissioner Hazen that
an awakening of the public is sorely
needed.
Driver Better Qualified.
The automobile driver is better
qualified to walk with safety on the
streets than the pedestrian who does
not know how to drive, in Maj.
Browns opinion. Il can walk bet
ter and safer through traffic by
knowing how to drive car" he de-
clared, "and so can every other care
full driver of an automobile. He |
knows the regulations and is ac-
Quainted particularly with the speed |
of automobiles-how quickly they |
can bear down on the pedestrian
The parent-teacher associations
should awake to the possibilities of
education along this line, Maj.
Brown suggested. All non-drivers, |
children and adults alike, he feels,
should become better acquainted
with traffic regulations regarding
automobiles, as we'll as regulations
governing pedestrians.
Mr.. Hege said he would refer the
problem particularly to Herman v.
Schreiber, safety engineer who is
advising and working with the COM
mittee.
The figures disclosing the high
percentage of deaths among nom
drivers of cars, Mr.. Hege said,
opened up a definite field for study
and action.
In making public results of the
study. Mr. Van Duzer had disclosed
actual facts, Mr.. Hege said, which
bear out general ideas which were
current but not backed by facts.
I'VE thought children of pre-
school age and older people espe-
cially those who were retired and
had few social or organizational
contacts, were among those most
generally victims of traffic acci-
dents," said Mr.. Hege.
Aid Of Citizenry.
I'VE did not realize. however" he
said. that the percentage of those
killed and manned who know Moth
ing about operation of automobiles
was 50 high. 1t is that height of
the percentage. over 95 per cent last
year. which surprises U.S."
To bolster the plan for city-wide
educational effort" to be made by
his committee, Mr.. Hege said he