Evening star., 1941-09-20
Traffic Police
May Replace
80 Stop Lights
Officials Consider
Stotioning Men at
Downtown Streets

Following the Presidents mani
festation of interest in the tratic
situation in Washington, the Com
mlssioners announced today that
policemen may be substituted for
traffic lights in at least 80 locations
in the downtown area.
Commissioner John Russell Young
said the board is conscious of the
demand for haste in providing some
solution to the traffic hazards which
already have taken 81 lives in the
District this year, and that action
will be taken as soon as budget mat
ters. now nearing conclusion, have
been cleared.
The Commissioner announcement
was preceded only few hours by
report of the 61st and 62d traffic
fatalities of the year. A 65-year-
old woman visitor in the city sue
cumbed to injuries received in a
collision and a 59-year-old pedes-
trian died shortly after he had been
struck by an automobile. Story on
Page A-16D
Commenting upon the plan to do
away with traffic lights at con-
gested points. Traffic Director Will
liam A. Van DuZer said a study
already had been started and that
it was evident more policemen are
needed.
No other city in the country de-
pends upon traffic lights alone to
take care of its congested areas" he
said. In New York City, for in
stance, from two to four policemen
are on duty at heavy intersections.
Short Blocks Are Problem.
The traffic director pointed out
that one of Washington's chief
troubles is its short blocks at certain
locations downtown. into which
automobiles jam and become hope
lessly tangled. Policemen and not
traffic lights he explained, are
needed in such instances to compel
drivers to keep in line and to move
at the proper moment.
Commissioner Young said that
Police Supt. Edward J. Kelly already
has been asked to check the traffic
situation and to have suggestions
ready as soon as the Commissioners
are prepared to confer on the sub
ject.
In his conference with Maj. Kelly
at Union Station before leaving for
HYDE Park this week, President
Roosevelt commented upon the care
lessness of automobile drivers in the
District and later said he was glad
10 learn that the chief OF Washing
ton police planned to confer with
| Commissioner Valentine of New
York City and other prominent OIL
cials regarding the local traffic situ-
alton.
Mr.. Van DuZer, who has been In
close contact with Maj. Kelly, said:
I'VE now have only SIS motorcycle
policemen. We should have at least
1875. During the rush hours they
should concentrate on preventing
double parking and illegal parking
on arterial streets"
Must Spend Money.
The traffic director named some
of the provisions in the recent high
way program outlined for the Dis
trict by Highway Director H. G.
Whitehurst as an ultimate solution
to a part of the problem.
Were going to have to spend a
lot of money before we get rid of
traffic hazards as they now exist
in Washington" he said. I'VE
should have depressed highways for
through travel from the Mall to
some point north of Florida avenue
and along K street from Washing
ton Circle to Second or Third streets
NE"
Mr.. Van Duzer reported that the
Federal Governments action in stag
gering the hours of its employees had
helped great deal toward keeping
down accidents. Since this system
has been put into effect, he cited,
personnel in the Federal Offices has
increased by nearly $4,000.
Cites Increasing Toll.
In line with the Presidents proc
lamation of August 81 calling at
tention to the rapidly rising acci-
dent rate throughout the country,
the Commissioners yesterday issued
the following proclamation to WASH
ingtonians:
I'VE desire to call the attention
of the residents of the District to
the fact that the recorded deaths
due to accidents (all types of ac-
cidents) occurring in the District
from January to July 81 totaled
227. For the same period in 1910
the number was 1876.
IF accidental deaths continue at
the same rates as prevailed in 1910.
the total for 194l will reach the
outstanding figure of 393. Up to this
time last year there were Al traffic
death in the District as compared
with So for this year.
The attention of all citizens Of
the District of Columbia-men.
women and children-is called to
the seriousness of the ver-increas-
ing accident toll. The campaign
against accidents in the home as
well as on the streets and high
ways should continue as an essen
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