Evening star., 1940-01-07
Educational Value of Traffic
Fatality Analysis Praised
School Superintendent Reports Doto
On Accidents to Children Helpful
Education of the general public in

Education of the general public in
traffic safety as a result of the
analysis of 1889 traffic fatalities in
Washington published recently in
The Star, was seen in letters re-
ceived yesterday commenting on
the study.
Particular emphasis was laid on
the factors in the Is fatal accidents
involving children as basis for
avoiding similar accidents in the
future in a communication from
Supt. Of Schools Frank w. Ballou.
To the Editor of The Star:
The school officers have studied
with keen interest The Stars sur
vey of traffic casualties in the Dis
trict during the year 1899. Espe-
cially helpful to the schools is the
data pertaining to boys and girls
under Is years of age who lost their
lives in such accidents.
First, we are impressed with the
fact that no child was fatally in
jured near one of our schools going
to or from school. Nine of the IS
children were killed between
o'clock and 10 o'clock in the eve
ming. Ten of the children met
death while playing or crossing in
the middle of the block.
1t is notable fact that only three
children were killed during the VIM
ter months. When the long days
come and children can play in the
streets late in the evening, they
expose themselves to greater dan
gers. Eleven of the IS children we're
killed between May l and October l.
Only four children under 10 years
of age lost their lives. Among the
Is deaths there was only one girl.
Your survey seems to- show that
the child running into the greatest
danger is the boy between 10 and
Is years of age playing or crossing
in the middle of the block after 4
o'clock in the late spring or sum-
mer Boys of this age are very
active, and usually become so in
tent upon their play or their errand
that they become more or less oblivi-
Gus to traffic. Motorists should be
especially watchful for children on
the streets who fall within this age
group. Teachers and parents will
do we'll to try to develop the habit
of traffic consciousness in these
children.
The schools are indebted to The
@, RHp
FRANK w. BALLOU,
Superintendent of Schools.
To the Editor of The Star:
have studied with extreme in
terest the survey on traffic fatalities
in the District in 1899 published
Monday in The Star.
The importance of education Of
the individual, both driver and Pc
destrian, as to causes of accidents
is emphasized, without in any way
minimizing the value Of engineering
and enforcement, in the campaign to
reduce traffic accidents.
I believe that these articles con-
stitute a very effective item in the
program of education. Congratula-
tions are due The Star for the in
teresting and thorough manner OF
presenting this subject.
DAVID McCOACH, Jr.,
Engineer Commissioner of the
District.
To the Editor Of The Star:
I was very much impressed with
the outstanding contribution which
your paper has made to the cause
of traffic safety in washington dur
ing the past year by the publication
of the series why Must They Die?"
and the complete resume of all traf-
fic fatalities in 1899 which appeared
Monday in The Star.
AS an official of the Police De-
partment, I am convinced that a
thorough and systematic search for
the answer to this question, why
Must They Die?" will reveal much
that will tend to direct our enforce
ment efforts into the right channels,
and that we thereby achieve some
measure OF success in reducing the
number of fatal traffic accidents.
AS a private citizen, I am grate-