Evening star., 1940-01-17
Police Launch
Drive 10 Cut
Traffic Deaths
New Safety Program
Based on Star Study
Of 1899 Record

Commanding officers Of the Police
Department today launched a con-
certed and co-ordinated effort to
reduce traffic fatalities in WASH
ington. based on education, en-
gineering and enforcement.
The program was outlined yes
terday during three-and-one-half-
hour conference in the Office Of
Supt. of Police Ernest w. Brown, at
tended by the commanding officers
of all precincts and police inspectors.
Much of the new safety program
Is based on recommendations made
by Capt. Arthur E. Miller first pre-
cinct, after a study of the material
included in the why Must They
Die?" series which appeared in The
Star last year. Capt. Miller for
warded his report from Northwest
ern University. where he is attend
ing the Traffic Institute.
Expert Prosecutor Urged.
Chief features of the program
which includes no radical changes,
but looks to long range develop
ment-are an analysis Of last years
fatalities by the commanders of the
precincts where they took place, a
series of engineering improvements
to remove street hazards and an en-
forcement drive aimed at moving
vehicles rather than parked cars.
The commanders agreed also to
urge appointment of single Judge
for Traffic Court and single, ex-
pert prosecutor for this court. Maj.
Brown revealed that he had de-
cided to discuss with the Traffic Ad-
visory Committee the advisability
of renewing the system under which
police sought prosecution of the
drivers at fault in all crashes, seri-
Gus or minor.
No Convictions in Deaths.
Capt. Miller's report, which was
the high light of the conference,
scored the failure of law enforce
ment officers to obtain single con-
viction in any of the IS traffic deaths
In the District last year. The traffic
expert said:
THE first thing that is impress
sive in this study is the large per-
centage of pedestrian deaths-66 out
of IS. The next thing that i'm
presses me is the fact that we didn't
have q single successful prosecution
in any court for any of the deaths.
''1t is true that one person has
been indicted by the grand jury,
two cases are pending before the
grand jury and 10 pending in Po-
.lice Court, but there have been no
convictions so far.
whether this condition is an
indictment or reflection on us,
the prosecutor, or the juries, am
unable to say. But I do say that
1t is a bad record and apparently
there is laxity or ineff1ciency some
where. For instance, there were 81
pedestrians crossing at intersections,
complying with the regulations, as
far as I can tell, and the DISPOSE
tions are given as follows: Released
by the coroner's jury. 8; acquitted in
Police Court, 6; held for the grand
Jury, /; indicted, l; pending, 3;
hit-and-run drivers not appre-
hended.
Sees Need for Training.
'It would appear that probably if
our men were better trained in ac-
cident investigation we could de-
termine after reasonable length
of time if it was our fault that
convictions were not obtained in
traffic cases.
I'VE should determine if it is our
fault. Even If we had excellent
service from our men and the courts
and prosecutors were bad, all our
efforts would be in vain.
"The next thing is properly trained
prosecutors with the proper attitude
toward traffic. believe an assistant
District attorney should attend
every inquest, and if he feels there
is sufficient evidence to convict, see
that the person is charged, whether
the coroner's jury holds him or not.
Great stress is placed on the
words in the negligent homicide law,
gross negligence" If it is required
to prove gross negligence in the
full meaning of the words, it is just
about impossible to prove it in any
case, regardless of the testimony.
More Difficult to Convict.
II do not propose that any per-
son be punished if he is innocent,
but the court seems to be getting
into vein that makes it more diff
cult to convict every day."
Capt. Miller pointed out that The
Star study revealed heaviest fatali-
ties in the I'd and the 18th
precincts-which border the down.
town area in the Northwest-and
next in the 1st precinct, which in
cludes most of the downtown, and
the 9th precinct, in the Northeast.
These are the danger areas, he
pointed out. where corrective steps
should be taken.
'The death record shows the dan
ger period is between and 10 p.m.,
and probably would show about the
same on non-fatal accidents. Would
1t not be good policy to have
more men on duty at the time and
places when and where these acci-
dents have been occurring?"
He suggested that police schedule
be adjusted so that instead of hav-
ing two scout cars on duty during
the danger period up to midnight
and two on during the quiet period
after midnight, that three cars be in
service before midnight and only
one after.
Against New Laws.
Capt. Miller said he was opposed
to passage of any more laws-espe-
cially a law against pedestrians
crossing in the middle of the block.
It could never be enforced, he de-