Evening star., 1940-01-05

Letters dealing with the analysis
of 1889 fatal accidents in the Dis
trict published Monday in The Star
continued to pour in today from
men deeply concerned in the fight
against traffic fatalities.
Among the communications re-
ceived was one from Senator Austin,
Republican, Of Vermont, and others
as follows:
To the Editor of The Star:
The study made by The Star of
the cause of traffic fatalities in
the District of Columbia serves to
educate and to cause more prudent
conduct by pedestrians and mo-
torlsts.
WARREN r. AUSTIN,
U. S. Senator from Vermont.
To the Editor of The Star:
I have been much Interested in
the why Must They Die?" articles.
Undoubtedly the illustration which
accompanies each article serves a
double purpose because it first at
tracts the readers. attention and
then induces a comparative read
ing. You are to be congratulated
upon the concise methods of pres
entation. I feel sure that it has
served its purpose if it has made
drivers think in terms of safe driv-
ing and pedestrians think in terms
of safe walking and thus averted
one accident which might have cost
a life.
1t is my hope that you will con-
tinue these articles and in this way
make Washington safer and hap
pier city for 1910.
JENNINGS RANDOLPH,
U. S. Representative from
West Virginia.
To the Editor Of The Star:
This study of traffic fatalities in
the District Of Columbia during the
year 1889 is, I believe, the most
complete and interesting study of
its kind which has ever been made
IN any newspaper. It should be
helpful in improving traffic condi-
tions and in reducing the number Of
traffic accidents and deaths in the
District. NJ o. ELDRIDGE,
Assistant Director of Vehicles
and Traffic.
To the Editor of The Star:
It is interesting to note in your
study of 1899 traffic deaths that
more than one-third of the fatal
accidents were due to the pedestrian
and not to the automobilist. This
leads one to doubt whether any
traffic regulations which relate only
to the automobilist will reduce the
number of deaths due to neglect of
the pedestrian No automobilist is
willfully responsible for a death and
death caused by the carelessness Of
the pedestrian should be prima
facie evidence that the motorist Is
not to blame.
Traffic control officials are always
using the excuse inadequate police
force" Observations indicate the
real difficulties are as much due to
the large number Of regulations
which do not affect safety or ex-
pedite traffic as they are to an in
adequate police force. If enforce
ment was based on the stopping of
practices which relate to safety or
expediting traffic and not to picking
up minor offenses, the police force
could handle the situation in more
efficient manner. It is doubtful
whether additions to the police force
would better conditions without the
elimination of a large number Of
minor regulations-in the Police
Court recently it was observed that
during one session the cases pre-
sented were all infractions of minor
regulations.
The making Of arrests on account
of technical violations when safety
or holding up of traffic is not in
volved serves no good purpose and
tends to discredit the whole system.
For example, the parking regulations
of the District probably do not have
more than 10 per cent enforcement
and no adequate enforcement OF
limited parking can be made with
out parking meters.
In areas where meters are not
available there should only be two
regulations-parking or no parking.
There is probably not a driver in
Washington who does not technical
ly violate the speed regulations every
day and Is subject to arrest. A
large number Of the arrests that are
made are due to technical violations
and the question of safety does not
enter in. j. c. HOYT.
+ ~ 4
To the Editor Of The Star:
The Stars analysis Of trafhc
- fAtv fnr 1870 m the StreetQ Of