Evening star., 1941-09-23
Series Of Moves
Planned for
Traffic Safety
Loading Platforms
To Eliminate ESQ
'Puint-Line' Zones

The District moved swiftly ahead
today with a program aimed at
elimination of some $50 death
traps" - streetcar loading zones
marked only by painted lines-as
the Commissioners planned two
other moves designed to aid their
new traffic safety campaign.
On the heels of the disclosure that
Highway Director H. c. Whitehurst
had been directed to take immediate
steps to replace the painted loading
zones with raised concrete platforms,
the Commissioners revealed that
they planned to:
l. Invite Police Commissioner
Lewis j. Valentine of New York
City to visit Washington and join
with the Commissioners, local police
officials and other department heads
in a round-table discussion of what
steps could be taken to improve traf-
fic conditions here.
2. Call conferences of District
traffic officials and representatives
of traffic advisory groups and others
interested in traffic problems to dis
cuss the general problem.
These will begin with a closed
technical engineering session" to
be held at pm. tomorrow in the
Office of Capt Whitehurst. Ex-
perts from the Public Utilities Com
mission, Police Department. cor
poration counSels Office. traffic di-
rector's Office and Park Service will
be among those attending. The
Commissioners will not be present
at this preliminary meeting.
More Motorcycle Men Urged.
In another move to cut the num-
Der of traffic accidents in Washing
ton. Inspector Arthur E. Miller, head
of the traffic division, recommended
to Acting Police Supt Edward j.
Kelly an addition of 20 motor
cycle men to the city's traffic patrol
for a total of 75 Inspector Miller
said the additional men would
greatly ease the traffic situation
here.
The conference with local traffic
ly, Highway Director Whitehurst,
Traffic Director William A Van
Duzer Inspector Miller and others.
will be held some time this week,
possibly tomorrow, the Commission
ers said.
In announcing that they would
invite Commissioner Valentine, the
!, Lr Il
any advice that he might be able to
give.
The Commissioners said they
hoped, through the conferences, to
obtain some specific suggestions on
ways and means of improving the
traffic situation here.
Zones to Be Certified.
Elmo J. Milligan, executive secre-
tary of the Public Utilities Com
mission, said the commission has
just about completed its program of
eliminating some painted zones and
relocating others and would be able
to submit list of the certified loca-
tions within a week or 10 days.
Mr.. Milligan said the District now
has about 255 of the painted load
ing zones. 1t is planned to replace
these with concrete platforms. 6
inches high and Streamlined at the
approach end. They will be similar
to the platforms on F. street at
Seventh and Ninth streets NV.
The replacement program, which
will cost about $4,000, will be
financed with money from a S1OO 900
fund provided in the present ap-
preparation act. This fund was ear
marked "for construction and
change in layout of roadways and
curb lines, the construction of direc-
tlonal and pedestrian islands at
various intersections to permit of
proper traffic light control and
channelization of traffic"
Up until year ago, the District
had no authority to construct such
platforms. The 1912 act gave the
District authority to construct the
loading platforms anywhere. but the
Capital Transit Co., must maintain
them.
After the painted zones have been
eliminated, the Commissioners plan
to replace the present wooden plat
forms, which number about so, with
concrete structures.
Inspector Miller's recommended
tions were followed by a statement
from the Traffic Division head
which may portend an accelerated
police drive against speedsters.
There are % arterial highways in
Washington which I feel should be
patrolled day and night. However,
the number of men at our disposal
now prevents this, the inspector said
Studies by traffic experts have
shown that at least 10 law enforce
ments arrests should be made for
each motor accident in which people
are injured. For the year 1941, the
Police Department made this pro-
portion until July. Since July the
proportion has dropped to eight ar
rests for each injury. feel we have
urgent need for these men I have
requested to keep the traffic toll
down." Inspector Miller declared.
Inspector Miller said he believed
10 foot men should be added to the
Traffic Division.