Evening star., 1941-02-01
Pedestrian Arrests
And More Police
Suggested

With the beginning of q new
month today, safety groups in Wash
ington redoubled their efforts to
formulate a traffic program for the
city that would prevent a recur-
renee of January's tragedies, in
which 13 people were killed.
Not since 1887, when there were
IA traffic victims, has death struck
more heavily on District streets dur
ing a single month. Attention was
further focused on the problem with
the realization that last months
figure represents an increase Of eight
over the five traffic fatalities in
January, 1910.
Proposals to make the Nations
Capital safer for its citizens ranged
from arrests of persons crossing
street at some point other than a
crosswalk to the addition of 90
traffic policemen to the police force
to guard the city's danger spots.
New Legislation Asked.
In addition, the District Com
miSSioners yesterday submitted TO
Congress several bills designed to
improve traffic safety conditions
here. Among these was measure
to amend the Highway Safety Act
to make the financial responsibility
law applicable in all cases OF reck-
less driving where personal injury
is involved. The amendment also
would affect the present provisions
in the act regarding drunken driv-
ing and leaving the scene OF an
accident in which personal injury
occurs.
Another bill would require all
cabs for hire to carry insurance for
the protection of passengers.
Complicating the problem of re-
ducing traffic deaths, experts agree,
is the human element involved.
Analysis of last months fatalities
shows that pedestrians made up
the majority, with 10 victims. OF
the 10, sevent violated the pedes-
trian control regulation-a regula-
ton intended for their safety, &C
cording to testimony at coroners'
inquests.
Five Out of Crosswalk.
A breakdown Of these seven
deaths reveals that five were cross
ing a street at point other than
a crosswalk and two were crossing
an intersection against red light.
Three of the five sharply decreased
their chances of being seen by an
oncoming motorist by stepping out
into the street from between parked
cars.
Two of the remaining three Pc
destrians were hit while crossing
streets at uncontrolled intersections,
while the third was standing by his
stalled automobile. Two additional
victims were passengers in automo-
biles, while a third was a bicyclist.
To discourage pedestrians from
risking their lives by crossing streets
in the middle of the block thus
apparently becomes the principal
aim in any proposed safety program.
The suggestion to arrest persons
crossing not on croSswalks came
from Traffic Director william A.
Van Duzer.
after ALL" he declared, there
is a provision in the pedestrian con-
troll regulation which makes it un-
lawful for any person to cross a
street at some point other than a
crosswalk, if. by doing so, he creates
a traffic hazard"
Sees Warning in Arrests.
He added that such arrests in the
downtown area particularly, where
traffic Is heaviest, would serve as
warning to the general public.
Inspector Arthur E. Miller, head
of the accident prevention unit of
the Police Department, described
the provision as controversial" "
however, and said it would be diff
cult to obtain public cooperation
in its enforcement.
Pointing instead to the heavy fines
imposed in Police Court recently
against motorists failing to give the
| right of way to pedestrians crossing
at intersections, he predicted that
continued prompt punishment by
the courts for this offense would
go far in persuading pedestrians to
cross at crosswalks, where they will
be protected"
The squirt in traffic deaths last
month also prompted proposals by
such groups as the American Auto
mobile Association and the Traffic
Advisory Council.
A comprehensive program of traf-
fic improvement including the ad.
ditional 90 traffic policemen anc
establishment of a separate traffic
branch in Police Court to try only
traffic cases was advanced by the
motor club.
Deficient in Traffic Policemen.
In urging additional traffic police
personnel, the club pointed out thai
the District has only about III
policemen assigned to traffic, where
as cities of a comparable size have
more than $50 men assigned tt
such work.
The principal measure advocated
by the Trafic Advisory Council
concerned creation of a citizens
observers group to report all movini