Evening star., 1940-04-07
C. Traffic Safety Improves With Pedestrian Still Main Problem

accidents of the first quarter of this vear mere bn.ed o
throughout the three months to prepare the "Why
Must They Die?"
BY J. b. ZATMAN.
Although Washington had only trafc fatalities during
the nrst three months OF 1940 compared with 81 during
the same period in 1889 analysis better safety
record still depends on educating the pedestrian.
OF the Is fatalities in the first quarter of this year. 13
were pedestrians and of these held by coroners
1ur1es to have been responsible deaths total
OF IL were found at coroner nquess to have violated
1or the own safety In that they either crossed street
at the crosswalk crossed against red light
these cases the driver deemed enough responsible to
held for official action.
OF the pedestrian total g. or 68 per cent were 80
years OF age more of whom neglected to crosswalk
An analysis of the 81 traffic fatalities during the
three months of 1899 reveals that IT pedestrians
g. or Al per cent fell in the 60yearod class Eight
Killed while negecting to crosswak including who
were 60 years of
Most Fatalities in Downtown Area.
Significantly enough almost three-fourths Of the 16
fatal traffic accidents this occurred in the downtown
area That is in the bounded by Maryland Me-
Constitution New Hampshire and Florida NV.
This compares with 8, almost half of the 81 traffic
fatalities during first three months of 1899 which oc-
Cured in the area
In fact four Of the the first quarter of
1910 happened at the place did four years
fatalities.
The fatal locations the of Good Hope road
Sc Pennsylvania and Twenty NW
and streets NV. and Connecticut Immediately
south of S street NV.
That the large proportion of pedestrians than
years of age6S centwho killed from January
March 81 of this year not unusual emphasized
survey by the American Automobile Association
The survey reveals that 60yearold pedestrians eight
times as likely be traffic victims at Is of age
that after passing Is of their chances meeting
death in traffic has risen to the startling figure of
what 1t was at third that age.
Asked to comment the problem elderly
pedestrian traffic fatalities Traffic Director William Van
Duzer said yesterday that he hoped euconal
regulations would help solve this problem
Educational Work Is Needed
Most of these people 80 years of age become
thoughtless he declared pay no attention to
oncoming vehicles And since there's legal
we can stop them from crossing in the middle Of the block
under present regulations must attempt educate them
to the hazards of crossing street not in crosswak
If we can shunt them to controlled intersection
even to uncontrolled intersection cross he
continued then the battle against careessness
practically won."
He admitted that provision were placed in the
pedestrian regulations making illegal person cross
in the middle of the block it would be extremely difficult
enforce.
pointed poster showing small child kneelng at
his bed praying And please make Mother and Dad stop
5aywakng part of the educational program he had in
mind. He added that similar posters will be placed
streetcars
part safety program in Pittsburgh he recalled
cards mailed to $4,000 owning automobiles
asking them to be cautious when crossing
cross at only Pittsburgh
Another safety here, he said would be the
extension of walk signals especially intersec-
ons such Fifteenth street Pennsylvania NW
Eleventh street and Pennsylvania NV Fourteenth
and streets NV and Fourteenth and streets NV He
explained that funds for this purpose had provided
In the 1941 District budget.
He said The Stars analysis January this year of
the IS traffic fatalities of 1889 had been Invaluable" help
ing to reduce traffic deaths.
Pedestrian Control Seen of Help.
The per reduction in the number of pedestrians
killed while intersection against proper signal
two during the first three months of compared with
four during similar period last year-may attributed
largely to pedestrancontrol regulations he said These
were not placed into effect until the middle March, 1885,
he pointed out.
similar reduction of Is cent in pedestrian injuries
effected during the first quarter of year as compared
with the first quarter of last Up were
399 pedestrians injured while there during
period last year
AS in 1889 had the unenvable completely
dominating the traffic fatality picture both drivers
victims Only of the Is traffic deaths woman while
Is OF the is drivers involved fatal accidents men, with
inexperienced htandrun The proportion of
men to women motorists registered in the District roughly
to l, according TO Mr. Van Duzer
Up to this time last year there women victims of
traffic accidents but of the 81 at the wheel of
the traffic killer women.
An encouraging sign in the analysis traffic deaths
during the first three months of this the
children were killed Three had their lives ground be-
meath the wheels Of motor vehicles in the period in 1882
Since nine or 56 cent of the traffic fatalities during
the three months under discussion either clear
night clear day. it is evident that poor visibility
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