Evening star., 1944-05-16
frightened Laws
On Traffic Urged
For Safety Here .
National Awards !
Presented by AAA /
To D. c., Arlington |

. Tightening up of traffic regulations
governing pedestrians at cross walks.
a comprehensive safety educational
program in high schools, emphasis
on playground activities for chill
dren during summer months and
other improvements for the protec-
ton Of Washington pedestrians were
urged yesterday by Burton w. Marsh
OF the American, Automobile Asso-
citation to improve the city's traf1ic
safety record
Speaking at luncheon at the
Mayflower Hotel at which Arlington
County and Washington were pre-
sented national awards for winning
first and second places, respectively,
IN their population classes In the
1943 safety contest, Mr.. Marsh said
that If Washington's program had
been stepped up" last year it might
have won top honors.
At the same time, ne praised the
work done thus far by the city, not.
ing that the Traffic Departments
records Of pedestrian accidents over
a period of years had yielded much
valuable information In fact-find.
ing analysis aimed at reducing the
annual toll Of accidents.
Marked Reduction Shown.
Statistics for last year showed the
Districts pedestrian death rate, IA
persons per 100000 population,
marked a reduction of Is per cent
over the two previous years. Arling-
ton, victor over SO rival cities OF
$4,000 to 100 900 population, reported
no pedestrian deaths last year.
Next to Chicago, Washington was
judged to have the best pedestrian
protection program of any city with
a population of more than 00,000
and much of the credit for this was
given to its TRAFFIC Advisory Council
and its educational activities. School
safety patrols, their work imple-
mented by monthly safety lectures
and posters, also was commended
for thSir service.
In his suggestions for improving
Washington's rating, Mr.. Marsh, di-
rector of the AAA's traffic engineer.
ing and safety department, noted
that only IL pedestrians were ar
rested for crossing in the middle OF
the block, yet Is of SO pedestrians
killed last year were crossing streets
out OF crosswalks. He called for
stricter enforcement of regulations
forbidding this practice, pointing I'd
the decrease in accidents at inter-
sections, where pedestrians were re-
quired to cross on the proper signal.
School Program Urged.
The lack of an adequate high
school educational program should
be corrected by introduction of a
program to teach students to walk
and drive safely, while greater en-
phasis should be placed on play
ground activities to keep children
of the streets during summer
months, he declared.
Arlington was given the highest
rating in its class for assembly and
| analysis of statistics and facts, and
also was cited for physical traffic
improvements and its excellent ele-
mentary school program. Pedes-
trian traffic injuries declined 13 per
cent in the last two years and Ar
lington was the second largest city
In the country reporting no traffic
deaths in 1943. The largest was
New Rochelle, N. Y.
The awards, sculptured glass
plaques, appropriately inscribed,
were presented by John L. Wander
grift, chairman of the AAA District
Advisory Board. to Commissioner
Guy Mason of the District and
Frank G. Hanrahan. Arlington coun-
ty manager.