Evening star., 1940-03-16
Council Praises
Whitehurst for
Traffic Advisers
Recommend More
Policemen
BY G. ADAMS HOWARD.

capt. HERBERT g. WnltehurSC, Dis
trict highway director. was praised
by the Traffic Advisory Council last
night for his achievements in the
completion of the new underpass at
Thomas Circle. At a meeting in the
District Building, members stood as
his accomplishments were cheered.
1t was also suggested that the new
underground highway be called the
"Whitehurst Underpass."
In response, Capt. Whitehurst
stated that he hoped for the sue
cess of the undertaking and said
that he was pushing plans for prof.
ects Of a similar nature at Scott
Circle and ultimately at Dupont.
The majority of items in a report
by the Committee on Legislation
and Enforcement we're approved. In
cluded was request for 10 more
traffic policement and additional
men assigned to motorcycle duty,
with adequate compensation. It
was brought out that although Con-
gress in 1896 had provided for 81
additional motorcycle men, less than
half had been placed in this line of
work, due to the lack of funds for
machines and because many of the
force objected to the increased dan
gers of mounted work.
Ask Accident Investigators.
Other items adopted included re-
quests for 80 policemen for accident
investigation work instead of the
existing 10, continuance of the en-
forcement index at 10 or over, main
tenance of near unity the ratio Of
arrests to moving traffic violations
and accidents and closer co-opera-
tion with the Criminal Justice
Association.
In the report strongly urged a
policy of bringing extra pressure
to bear on types of violations re-
sponsible for serious accidents, such
as speeding, drunken driving, weav-
Ing in traffic, turning from the
wrong lane, pulling out from the
curb without giving the proper sig
nal, and failure to yield the center
lane when the proper signal is given
from the car behind. The council
also approved the recommendation
that precinct commanders instruct
their patrolmen to apprehend
drivers or report violations respon-
sible for serious accidents, and con-
tinuance OF periodic meetings of
key men to keep up interest in the
enforcement program and its OBJ
jectives.
The Committee on Accident Sur
vey had the following recommended
tions approved: That officers be in
structed to be on alert pedestrian
protection violations and to arrest
those failing to obey traffic signals
or crossing through heavy or dan
gerous traffic away from cross
walks. Warnings were recommend
ed for all persons crossing not at
cross walks where the traffic is
light.
The council also approved q re-
quest to the Capital Transit Co. to
note an inadequate loading zone
at H street between Fourteenth
and Fifteenth streets NV. and a
recommendation that special atten-
tion be given to the section be-
tween Benning road NE. and
Naylor road Sc. A course in in
struction to all persons more than
55 years old also was approved.
Studies of comparative crime and
crime prevention costs as against
traffic accident costs and the pro-
cedure in inquests on fatal acci-
dents were urged.
Would Change Corner Parking.
The council recommended the
changing of the present parking
regulations banning cars from 20
feet of the intersection to eliminate
this restriction where it was not
necessary because of unobscured
vision. The painting of the curb
at these places was asked, but when
informed by William A. Van Duzer,
traffic director, that there was not
sufficient money, this latter part
was referred to the Budget Com
mittee of the council.
A report of the Committee on
Signs and Signals asked for the in
stallation of new street lighting of
q pendant design, but while it was
the sense Of the council that uni
form and better visibility was most
important, the matter was referred
to a Committee on Planning.
The subject of allowing taxicabs
to park at fire hydrants in zones
/ and 2, approved by the council at
a previous meeting, was again dis
cussed and putting the plan into
effect awaits approval of the change
in the traffic regulations by the
Commissioners, it was stated.
It was decided to hold a special
meeting in May for the council to
hear addresses by safety engineers
for the purpose of further stimulat-
ing interest in traffic betterment.
The council approved the follow
Ing parking changes:
Northwest Section.
irving street. That parking be
prohibited on the south side OF
Irving street between Mount Pleas
ant and Sixteenth streets from Z
am. to $50 am.
Seventeenth street. That in ad-
dition to the present restrictions
on Seventeenth street between K
and H, parking be prohibited on the
west side from 4 to 6 pm.
Seventeenth street. That the
paragraph dealing with Seventeenth
street be amended to provide for nc
parking on the west side between
Rhode Island avenue and Massa-
chusetts avenue from am. to 6 pm
Northeast Section.
Twenty-second street. That there
be no parking on the east side al
any time, between Monroe street anc
Bunkerhill road.
Girard street. That Girard street
(south) be made one way east from
Rhode Island avenue to Seventeenth
street.
Twenty-first street. That Twen'
ty first street, between Quincy
aud Choy%1,Ard cfroofe ho yVooHa oy,f