Evening star., 1946-08-08

age groups are more likely to be les.
alert and less aware of danger thar
those in lower age groups"
Mr.. Keneipp said out-of- town cars
make up half the. Districts traffic
volume and, as such, constitute 8
major part of our traffic problem.
my Office is compiling statistics
now on the number of accident.
caused by District drivers as com.
pared to the number caused by out
|of-town motorists" Mr.. Keneipr
said.
He spoke as investigations con-
tinued into the Memorial Bridge
plunge of an Arnold Lines bus In
which one person was killed last
Friday and the Fourteenth street
accident.
The absence of skid marks in the
wake of Mr.. Patterson's automobile
in the Fourteenth street accident has
prompted Police Accident Investi-
CATION Unit specialists to begin tests
on the smashed automobile to see if
Mrs Patterson's brakes were in work
ing order and to attempt to deter
mine, through witnesses, whether
the motorist applied his brakes just
before the car plowed into the
crowd of pedestrians.
Thus far, witnesses have told only
of seeing the Patterson car speed
ing down Fourteenth street at ap-
proximately 40 miles an hour, or of
hearing the noise the car made
when it struck tree on the side
walk. Investigators have not To-
Gated any one who heard the squeal-
ing of hastily braked wheels on the
street and could find no tire-skid
marks.
Inspector Miller said Mr.. Patter-
son, still in critical condition at
Hospital from injuries he
suffered in the crash, once was ar
rested for driving 40 miles an hour
in 25-mile speed zone and was
fined only SIS.
Other Developments.
Meanwhile, these developments
entered the traffic picture:
The Police Accident Investigation
Unit received statements yesterday
from "eight or ten" witnesses to the
Patterson accident. An AIU investi-
gator quoted some of the witnesses
as saying that before the accident
they saw Mr.. Patterson leaning
over the wheel" while other wit
nesses said Patterson appeared to
be lying down on the seat.
The Interstate Commerce Com
began study of traffic con-
ditions on the Memorial Bridge,
where one person was killed and
43 were injured last Friday in a
bus accident. The ICC will file a
report after completing its inquiry.
Deputy Coroner Christopher j..
Murphy today is scheduled to swear
in the six-man jury which will sit
on the inquest into the deaths of
John Lowe and Joseph A. Scannell,
victims of the Patterson car.
Strikes at Beginners.
Mr.. Keneipp, in his address,
SUI uSh oqQdlC ely az DC5IlllCI uIiV-
ers who, he said, must face this
responsibility. 1t will be my per-
sonal aim. to see that our require
ments are fully met before drivers
permits are issued to beginners"
At present, an applicant must at
tain score of rs in the drivers
written test to receive permit. In
spector Miller said he understood
officials plan to raise the critical
score to 80 or IS. The police officials
said he thought the value attached
to certain questions in the written
test ought to be changed,
"An applicant who is unable to
state what the speed limit Is loses
5 points in the present test, but he
gains S points if he can answer what
he should do when he approaches
a stop sign," Inspector Miller said
Il think it is obvious what a motor
ist should do when he sees sign
reading Stop but every one should
know the speed laws"
Morgue officials were unable to
say when inquests will be held in the
Memorial Bridge and Fourteenth
street deaths. The coroner's action
will be held up until vital eyewit-
nesses in both crashes are released