Evening star., 1941-01-01
BY J. B. ZATMAN.


By J. B. ZATMAN.
In the face of Nationwide in traffic fatai-
ties Washington ended the year with of 30
traffic deathsa reduction of about cent from the
gives Washington its best safety since
1888, when 80 persons were killed.
The 1910 record by sudden squirt in fata
ties during the last 10 days of December when persons
died a traffic accidents Six of the
pedestrians.
December was the worst month for traffic fatalities
194O with 3 persons killed compared with only seven
during December of 1889 total of 30 met their
deaths during the final quarter of l94Osevn more than the
number killed in the period in 1889
study of the 1910 traffic toll reveals that safety edu
pedestrian still remains the most important
factor in the Districts traffic safety program.
Fifty eight pedestrians included among the 80 per-
killed in traffic during 1910 Of this number g. or 62
per cent killed while disregardng rules intended for
their safety.
Violation of Safety Rules Is Shown.
Crossing at place other than crosSwalk
led the death of 25 of the &c. six crossing street at
controlled against the signal three
were attempting hitch rides moving vehicles; one
jumped off moving vehicle and one was playing in the
addition two of the 25 who crossing in the
middle of the block had been drinking prior to the fatal
accident.
For comparison 66 pedestrians killed in 1889 Of
this number, 81 almost half were killed crossing street
not on a crosswalk
Some measure of apparently achieved this
pedestrians 60 OF or over the
danger dsobeyng safety rules total of % pc
derans who go old over were traffic fatalities
compared with 80 the previous Ten persons
killed 1910 when they crossed
the street at point other than crosSWak as compared
with 13 similar fatalities in 1889
The great majority years fatal accidents occurred
In neighborhoodS within 10 minutes drive OF the down.
town business section example four killed
on Connecticut NV between street and Nebraska
avenue struck while crossing Connec-
cut other point than crosswak While
the remaining two crossing the thoroughare against
the proper signal.
Only pedestrians in this group dared death
and by crossing the street against red light
Just half the number who were lied IN 1882
Van Duzer Cites Pedestrian Careessness.
Directing particular attention the problem of pedeS
trian carelessness Traffic Director William A. Van Duzer
depored the tendency OF many people to abandon all eau
ton when they walk street.
People just don't take proper care OF themselves III
traffic. he When it rains they walk around with
umbrellas down in front of their faces so that they
possibly whether they III any danger After
ALL no his proper mind will cross in front OF an
approaching locomotive why debate the right OF way with
an oncoming vehicle which kill injure person just
as eaSily?'
He pointed out that an automobile travelling slowly
as 20 miles an requires 20 25 feet to
STOP pedestrian exercising the proper care can see
the car coming plenty wait until it past
An emphatic second of this was given by Assistant
Traffic Director O. Eldrdge who said that in 81 per
of fatal pedestrian accidents it has been found
the pedestrian himself in street in the path OF
vehicle at such time or such Location When or Where ne
had no business to be-"
major of pedestrian fatalities ne SAID,
was ntoxcaton AuopSeS conducted by the coroner on
the bodies drivers and 33 pedestransa victims
of traffic notwithstanding period of % months showed
that four of been drinking while IS of the
pedestrians intoxicated when struck.
That darkness traffic hazards tremendously is
seen in the sharp Jump fatalities after For example,
25 persons killed in 1910 between pm. and pm
more than double the 10 killed between noon and pm.
These figures almost the in 1889 with % traffic
fatalities reported between pm and pm, compared
with 10 between noon and pm.
Danger in First Hour of Darkness
Your chance of being involved ina fatal automobile
accident doubled in the first hour OF darkness
according to the results Nationwide study made recently
by an company The analysis showed that there
were 42O5 during the first hour of darkness as
compared with 1863 the hour before.
Child fatalities dropped off 26 per cent from the number
reported in 1889 children killed by moving
yehces-four the IS killed in 1889 But here too,
there tendency the part of children to initiate their
elders dsregardng elementary rules OF safety Three OF
the struck by after they out into the street
from between front of parked cars This is the same
number killed in a similar way last year.
An idea the magnitude of the traffic death problem
throughout country may be gained from an estimate by
the National Safety Council that the Nations death TOLL is
expected to approximate at least 34,5OO
This figure which is almost 1000 higher than the total
for 1889 persons killed represents increases
of from per cent for geographical region the
council reported