Evening star., 1941-05-08
A. A. A. Unit Urges
Downtown Terminal
Facilities in Program
Women's Committee Also
Calls for 81 More
Traffic Policemen

Oficials OF the American Auto
mobile Association had under con-
sideration today comprehensive rec
concentrations agreed upon yester-
day by the Women's Safety Com
mittee of the District A. A. A. for
legislation to improve traffic safety
here.
While the group, which met in
the Senate minority conference
room, agreed in principle with the
proposed 100000 District high
way program, members were unani-
nous in urging the Whitehurst
plan go a step further to provide
adequate terminal facilities in the
downtown area.
The committee pointed out that
benefits to be derived from expedit-
ing traffic through the highway
plan would be nullified unless park
ing garages were erected in as many
downtown sectors as possible.
Ask 92 Traffic Officers.
In addition, these recommended
tions we're made in broad traffic
safety program:
An increase of 90 officers in the
Metropolitan police forces whose
sole assignments would be traffic
matters. and an added Al motorcycle
policemen to bring that division up
to 100
An extension of drivers training
courses to two additional schools
for white drivers and another for
colored motorists.
Assignment of a full-time traffic
judge who would handle all minor
traffic violations and second judge
who would be assigned part time
to caring for traffic jury cases.
An improvement of city street
lighting so that present lights would
shine down on traffic rather than
upward
Parking Garages Proposed.
Washington I. Cleveland, direc-
tor of the Washington A. A. A., out
lined to the committee a program
for constructing a number of 400
car garages in strategic downtown
areas where a charge of Is cents
a day would be required. He gave
figures to show that such garages
could be operated with only small
deficit.
ANY such deficit could be COW
cred through the highway fund.-"
he declared, adding that this would
be justified. Provisions are being
made, he said. for caring for cars
while in motion. "but little Is being
done to provide for them when
stopping"
Mr.. Cleveland said the District
Highway Department must recog-
nize the Importance of terminal IA
cilities in any plan designed to re-
lieve traffic congestion.
Mrs. George C. Thorpe, chairman
of the committee. explained the
suggestion for additional police
men was based on study of the
International Association Police
Chiefs, of which Maj. Ernest w.
Brown, District police head. is pres
ident. That survey, she said, found
that four traffic officers were re-
quired for every 10000 population.
On that basis, Washington would
need approximately $50 officers for
traffic duty alone, she said. Mr..
Cleveland pointed out that a force
of 1,755 police in all divisions should
be necessary in considering the pop
ulation of 1880 and 1910 when the
force numbered l437 men.
An increase in the motorcycle di-
vision was essential. Mrs. Thorpe
asserted. because a large percentage
of accidents occur in residential
areas which she claims can best
be covered by motorcyclists.
The women's committee, which
has been responsible for many i'm
portant traffic safety measures for
the District, referred it's recon-
mendations to executives of the
A. A. A. and the combined groups
made plans to reach members Of
Congress in urging legislation.