Evening star., 1941-01-13
Poor Lighting,
Speed Blamed
For Traffic Toll
Police Conference
Agrees on Stricter
Law Enforcement
Earlier Story on Page A-2.)


Washington police officials today
named the cltys poor lighting sys-
tenn end speed of vehicles as con-
tributing factors in the 194l traffic
toll of eight fatalities in 13 days.
AS the result of a police confer
ence held today in the Office of Maj.
Ernest w. Brown, superintendent of
police. strict enforcement of exist
ing laws has been called for, and
appeals to the public for assistance
in solving the traffic problem will
be MADE via the radio, the pulpits
of the city's churches, through citl-
ZenS' associations and business Or
CARNATIONS and moving picture
theaterS.
Maj. Brown said the conference
was called to discuss problems aris-
ing because of the inaugural, but
that the opportunity was taken to
study methods for checking ana
correcting the present traffic condi-
tionS. Another meeting will be held
Thursday.
Strict Enforcement Needed.
In the discussions at headquar-
ters today, testimony by persons in
volved in some fatal accidents to
the effect that poor lighting kept
them from seeing victims as they
stepped into the street was given
credence in a number of cases by
police officials.
Maj, Brown said that strict en-
forcement of the pedestrian control
law is necessary. 1t concerns crossing
at intersections; and lesser known
measure, the "jay-Walk" law. makes
it violation for pedestrian to
cross in the middle of a block when
ne is creating a hazard. Maj. Brown
said hazard is created in such in
stances when a pedestrian attempts
to cross when an automobile is in,
or Just entering the block.
He said that strict enforcement
would be required also of the meas
ure concerning moving vehicles
which prohibits weaving" and cut
ting in and out, and that the de-
partment would pay particular at
tention to the law involving the
right of way. both for the motorist
and the pedestrian.
Ministers of the city will be asked
to appeal for public assistance from
their pulpits. he said. The police
precincts will prepare analyses of
traffic accidents and other da,a for
the use of the ministers. MAJ.
Brown said a number of pastors in
Washington already had agreed to
make appeals.
May Make Movie Short.
Copies of the analyses also will
be given to the citizens groups and
to business organizations and clubs.
Inspector Arthur E. Miller, direc-
tor of the Accident Prevention Unit.
is scheduled to discuss traffic control
on the radio in the near future
and other appeals will be made over
local stations.
A suggestion was made to use
part of the approximately $1,000
appropriated last year for public
traffic education in the making
of a motion picture short to be
shown in local theaters.
Maj, Brown pointed out that the
personnel of the police force had
increased only 13 per cent since
1880, while the population has in
creased 362 per cent To bring the
police force up to the same COM
parative level as that of 10 years
ago would require the addition of
282 policemen. he said.
Attending the conference, in addi-
tion to police and traffic officials,
were William A. Van Duzer, and M.
o. Eldridge, director and assistant
director of the Bureau of Vehicles
and Traffic, respectively.
COroner's Jury Holds Driver.
A coroners jury ordered Louis A..
Smith, 33, colored. of 1919 South
Carolina avenue Sc, held for action
of the grand jury in connection
with the traffic death January II of
Walter Edward Norman, Al, colored,
Of 1400 Twenty-eighth street NV.
The accident occurred at the in
tersection of Second and E streets
Sc. The testimony revealed that
Norman, pedestrian, was struck
while crossing E street in the cross
walk from south to north. He died
Immediately of a wound in the chest.
An autopsy showed that his heart
was punctured. His was the sixth
traffic death of the year.
Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald
ordered a second traffic death in
OlleSt scheduled for todav noStroped