Evening star., 1942-07-24
Safety Enforcement
Drive 10 Concentrate
On Pedestrians
Fewer, Slower Autos
And Population Influx
Shifts Emphasis

Pedestrians rather than motorists
will be the chief object of District
police attention in an intensive
trafic safety enforcement drive
scheduled for the next IL months.
The change of emphasis from
driver to walker is necessary, the
Commissioners Traffic Advisory
Council said yesterday, because
pedestrian traffic has greatly in
creased as rationing reduced the
number of drivers on District streets.
Pointing out that 81 of the So
traffic victims here this year have
been pedestrians, Traffic Director
William A. Van Duzer emphasized
that fatalities cannot be curbed
until carelessness by pedestrians is
overcome
I'VE have had an increase in popu-
lation of more than 100000 in the
last year" Mr.. Van Duzer said.
THAT means more pedestrians than
Washington ever had before. Add to
that number the former owners of
automobiles who now are walking,
and the problem adds up to one call
ing for intensive education of pedes-
trianS, and strict enforcement of
traffic regulations.
To Use Varied Mediums.
With $4,000 for traffic safety
promotion available for the current
fiscal year, the Commissioners and
the Advisory Council have agreed
on the following means of enlisting
public cooperation in the life-saving
educational drive:
Painting of warning signs on side
walks near curbs placing of posters
on trash containers on city streets;
radio programs and newspaper an
nouncements, signs on street cars
and buses, and at gasoline filling
stations, and banners above black
boards In every classroom of every
District school.
After a period of education and
warning, strict enforcement will be
started, with pedestrians receiving
tickets for violations, it was an
nounced.
Mr.. Van Duzer said enforcement
Of traff1c laws on motorists, with
heavy fines and driving permit re-
vocations as penalties for violation,
IS an easier task, relatively speaking,
than obtaining observance by pedes-
trians who need no permit to walk"
He emphasized the traffic prob
lem not only is bigger than ever
before, but demands shifting the
enforcement emphasis from driver
to walker. Even if the average
motorist is not conserving rubber,
he is driving slower than before
because of a limited gasoline al
lowance,' he said.
Budget Approved.
Attending meeting yesterday, at !
which plans for the safety drive |
were announced, were Director Van
Duser, Miss Lucille Haynes of the
WPA arts project section, Norman
Kal, chairman Of the Safety Pro-
motion Committee, and A. Julian
Brylawski, chairman of the Budget |
Committee of the Traffic Advisory |
Council.
A budget submitted by Mr.. Van |
Duzer was approved Mr.. Kal said
he felt beneficial effects would flow
from the intensive citywide safety |
drive, especially with 10000 school
children telling their parents OF
their daily classroom safety re-
minder. The $4,000 fund avail
able is larger by $2,50O0 than last
years safety promotion fund, Con-
eress having increased the appro-
priation in consideration OF the
added traffic burdens imposed on
the wartime Capital by the popu-
lation influx.
Sixteen of the SO fatalities here
during 1912 were men and women
killed by street cars and buses.
Most of the 81 pedestrians who1
lost their lives largely were victims
of their own carelessness, Mr.. Van
Duzer said, adding that police in
yestigation showed pedestrians in
volved did not exercise reasonable
prudence.
Posters are being designed and
printed. 1t was stated. with the
drive getting under way in earnest
within the next 80 days.