Evening star., 1940-06-08
Director Urges
Law 10 Stagger
Traffic Loads
Women's S Safety Unit
Hears Van Duzer
On D. 6. Problem


On D. 6. Problem
Members of the Women's Safety
Committee of the District division,
American Automobile Association,
today were pondering the difficulties
in the way of effectively regulating
Washington traffic, as outlined yes
terday by William A. Van Duzer,
director of vehicles and traffic:
Speaking at a luncheon meeting
of the committee, Mr.. Van Duzer
said the concentration of motor We
hicles is greater in the District
than in any other city in the
country, with the exception of Los
Angeles.
"We have three persons to every
car here" declared the traffic di-
rector, las compared with Philadel-
phia, which has eight and half
to every car and Chicago, which
has seven and a half persons to
every motor vehicle"
In addition, all these cars are
concentrated in a relatively small
area. with 20 per cent of the auto
mobiles coming from out of town,
he said And this 20 per cent is
involved in Is per cent of all the
accidents in the District, he pointed
out.
Fewer Motorcycle Police.
Although the population Of Wash
ington has increased 100000 in the
last 10 years, there has been no
appreciable increase in the police
force during the same period. In
fact, he added, there were SO motor
cycle policemen in the District II
years ago, while now there are
only SO.
In this connection, Inspector L. I.
H. Edwards said part of this de-
crease was due to the fact that
policemen rarely volunteer for mo-
torcycle duty. He explained that
due to the extra hazards encoun-
tered by motorcycle policemen, Maj.
Ernest w. Brown, superintendent of
police, makes no attempt to assign
men to this duty but asks for VOL
unteers. At present, there is no
increase In pay for motorcycle Off
GERS, although Inspector Edwards
said an increase of $40 per month
for such officers was requested in
preparing the l94l District budget.
AS partial solution to the traffic
problem here, Mr.. Van Duzer pro-
posed the staggering of hours in
Federal Offices.
Sees Law Needed.
Since we can't persuade the Gov
ernment to do this voluntarily" he
asserted, Il think there should be
law requiring them to stagger the
hours of their employees. This would
help the traffic situation more than
if S50.000,000 were spent to relieve
traffic congestion"
Describing the practice by some
persons of obtaining duplicate op-
orators permits and selling them
to others, Mr.. Van Duzer suggested
that each driver be required to have
his photograph taken and have it
placed on his permit. This doesn't
require any special legislation, he
said, but simply calls for regula-
ton passed by the District Commits
sionerS
Another Illustration of traffic con-
gestion in the District was given
by Capt. H. c. Whitehurst, director
of highways.
A traffic count last Saturday of
vehicles passing over Highway
Bridge, Key Bridge and Memorial
Bridge revealed that 10000 cars
used these bridges. And on Sun
day, 10000 cars used the bridges.
OF this number, 1880 were auto
mobiles carrying tags other than
those of the District, Maryland and
Virginia.
Weaving Seen as Trouble.
Inspector Arthur E. Miller, head
of the Traffic Accident Prevention
Bureau of the Police Department,
attributed the traffic congestion in
the District to the large number
of motor vehicles here and also to
the fact that many drivers weave
in and out of traffic instead of stay
ing in their own particular lanes.
The subject of traffic congestion
then was taken up by a panel COM.
posed of Mrs. c. D. Lowe, presi-
dent of the District of Columbia
Congress of Parent Teacher Asso-
Citations; Washington I. Cleveland,
manager of the local American Au-
tomobile Association Club; Inspector
Edwards, Capt. Whitehurst and
Mrs. Ernest H. Daniel, president
of the District Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs. But no solution was
reached.
At a luncheon following the meet
ing, Miss Mabel Boardman, ma
tional director of volunteer service
of the American Red Cross. ex-
planned the procedure of the or
paniZatiOn in times of distreSs