Evening star., 1944-02-01
Capital Transit
Defends Record
On Accidents
Toll Decreased 1000
In 10 Years, PUG
Hearing Is Told

AG LcdI lIlSS DelOTe UIle fuDllC
Utilities Commission to investi-
gate the increased number OF
deaths caused by streetcars and
buses here, Capital Transit Co.
officials today presented figures
to show that the number OF
streetcar and bus accidents had
dropped from 9,734 in 1884 to
7,848 last year.
The number of miles operated
more than doubled and the num-
ber of passengers increased
threefold during this period, the
officials said.
Merwyn Kraft, accident preven-
ton engineer of the American
Transit Association, declared that
the record of the Capital Transit
Co. was as good, if not better, than
that of companies in other large
cities. He testified that in 1943 the
transit company had 10.7 collisions
per 100000 miles, while the average
for y large cities throughout the
country was 1876.
Between 1884 and 1912, Mr.. Kraft
said, the Capital Transit Co. had
reduced its collisions per 100000
miles 28.7 per cent, while the aver
age reduction of the other IL COM
panles for the same period was AZ
per cent. The greatest reduction
among the II other companies was
PAT per cent and one increased A
per cent.
Merrill Cites Safety Equipment.
In opening the testimony for the
company, E. D. Merrill. president of
the Capital Transit Co., told the
commission that in spite of the in
crease in the proportion of public
vehicles in Washington, "the number
OF collisions Is not greater now than
it was in 1884 and the rate per
100000 miles operated for our We
hicles is very much less than it was
at that time. 1t is now less than it
was year ago"
Mr.. Merrill told the commission
that during the past 10 years "addi-
tlonal safety appliances have been
introduced, so that the standard
of equipment now is higher than
1t was some years ago, or at any
time"
considering the matter of en-
ployment of operators and training
for operating work" he said, I'VE
have, in the last few years, fully
maintained the standards previously
in existence
Manpower Poses a Problem.
The situation for the past two
years has been such that we could
not choose those who were super
latively qualified for the job and
reject others who were reasonably
well qualified. as we did during the
years when the number of appli-
cants was greatly in excess of the
numbers we desired to employ.
In adjusting our employment
practice to the war situation we have
relaxed certain requirements. In
fact, we have been pressed to do so
by governmental authority. We
have maintained the standards as
to character of the employees so far
as we were able to judge it prior
to actual employment. Other stand
ards have been maintained on a
level which we feel are safe and
reasonable under the circumstances u
Number of Fatalities Decreased.
Mr.. Merrill said the number of
fatalities has greatly decreased in
proportion to the risk since the
early years beginning in 1934."
The figures on accidents, mileage
and passengers were introduced in
a series of charts and graphs by
Alexander Shapiro. director of per-
sonnel in charge of training, safety
and related activities of the transit
company. The first exhibit showed
that the total number of all acci-
dents dropped approximately 1900
between 1884 and 1943, while the
total bus and streetcar mileage in
creased from 24,847, 900 to 51,470 600
and the total number of passen-
gers increased from 177,533, 900 to
535 POI 900.