Evening star., 1939-06-20
Traffic Council
10 Battle Leniency
10 Careless Drivers
Report Chorees It's
Wasted Time to Act
Against Them

Charging leniency in investigat-
ing and prosecuting District motor
lists involved in accidents, the Leg
islative Committee of the Traffic
Advisory Council will launch q
sweeping inquiry into existing meth
DDS Of the courts in prosecuting
careless drivers.
The action followed the consider
alton OF report by the Safety
Committee Of the Federation of
Citizens Associations.
The Legislative Committee was
preparing to call court and trafiic
authorities as well as police heads
for a round-table discussion of an
acute situation which permits
drivers to escape action through
settlements out of court and pay
ment Of damages through exchange
Of insurance cards."
At the same time the group was
unanimous in citing strict enforce
ment Of existing traffic regulations
as an important factor In reducing
accidents.
Harry s. Wender. committee
chairman, disclosed that reckless
drivers are repeatedly going free,
even when a serious accident is in
volved. Cases, slated for a con-
tinued hearing, have been dismissed
when persons connected with an
accident have settled differences
among themselves, he showed.
Wasted Time.
Police officers and person in
volved are wasting their time in re-
peated appearances before the cor
poratlon counsel under the exist
ing system" Mr.. Wender declared
Solution of this problem is the real
solution OF our accident problem. It
Is pity that a conscientious citi-
zen who wishes to prosecute an Of
lender is given no announcement
at all" he stated.
Other members of the committee
agreed that its solution would pave
the way for fewer traffic fatalities
and minor accidents.
This is one of the most important
matters in our city. Calling atten-
ton OF the public to recklessness of
autoists and more rigid enforce
ment of laws will bring about fewer
accidents" Washington I. Cleye-
land, one Of the traffic legislators
stated.
George E. Keneipp. another men,
Der. urged improvement of facilities
Tor investigating accidents. Radio
cruisers manned by scientifically
trained police as developed in many
large cities of the country to in
vestigate accidents will aid ma
terially in the function of the cor
poration counsel's ONCE, he believes.
His contention was that the original
emphasis should be placed on the
accident itself
Speed Law Survey.
Il do not believe ANYTHING will
foster hazardous driving more than
to lead an individual to believe that
his responsibility is no more than
the exchange Of insurance cards, -
Mr.. Keneipp said. He added the
community should not have to de-
pend on the individual to report
an accident of his own free will.
Every accident. even bent fender,
should be reported by citizens"
The committee pointed out that
policemen are not witnesses and
that decision to prosecute the re-.
sponsible party rests entirely with
the second person involved.
An immediate survey of existing
speed laws and speed signs with a
view of correcting conflicts will be
requested of the Traffic Depart
ment. The motion followed dis
closure that certain streets of the
District now have signs permitting
25-mile speed in one direction
while at the same point traffic in
an opposite direction allegedly may
move at 80 miles an hour.
Endorsement of congressional ac-
ton providing Washington with SO
additional policemen was made.