Evening star., 1947-06-19
Politics, Police Work
Blamed in Report for
Many Traffic Deaths

FluHy HuHN UVuiUS
Politics and poor police work we're
blamed today for the large number
OF people killed annually in auto
mobile accidents in the United
States.
In a report TO the Presidents
conference on traffic safety, an En-
forcement Committee headed by Ar
thur T. Vanderbilt, dean of New
York University Law School, said
traffic law enforcement, Is made
ouate in quantity and quality" be-
cause of Improper political influ-
ences, lack of official awareness of
the problem. inadequate systems
Of personnel selection and training
and unsound organization and ad-
mfnistration of enforcement agen-
cies.''
The report, read In the Interior
Department auditorium to dele
gates from all States. said more
traffic policemen are urgently need
ed In most States and cities.
"Substandard" Courts Hit.
There Is pressing need for i'm
provement" in traffic courts, the
report said 1t continued:
Higher standards are particu-
larly demanded in the courts which
try traffic cases in rural areas, al
though many urban courts are also
substandard to a great extent. One
OF the most fundamental, general
measures required for traff1c court
improvement is extension of the
special knowledge and skill of judges
and prosecutors required for the
handling of traffic violation cases"
Gov. Lane of Maryland told the
conference his State soon will begin
a s150,000 900 road building program
which will incorporate all accepted
safety features in the highways.
This will be done ''in the firm be-
lief that a properly constructed net
work of highways will go far toward
curbing the growing number of traf-
fic accidents" Gov. aLne said.
Laws RecOdified.
He told the conference that Mary
land recently had recodif1ed its traf-
fic laws. was teaching safety educa-
ton in public and most private
schools and had increased the State
police force by about so per cent.
Gov. Lane was one of Is State off,
cials participating in a forum dis
cussion on traffic safety at today's
conference.
DR.. Forrest E. Long OF New York
University, chairman Of the confer
ence's Education Committee, re-
ported that insufficient public in
terest. too few trained teachers and
an overcrowded curriculum are ham,
pering safety education. He said
the committee was encouraged,
however. by the fact there was
four per cent reduction last year in
fatalities in the to 14-year -old
age group.
Lyman w Slack, vice president
OF the Packard Motor Co, said a
lack of parking facilities is caus-
ing a universal traffic jam" and
progressive deterioration of down.
town business areas
Gov. Lane and others attending
the conference participated in a
luncheon otday at the Mayf1ower
Hotel marking two national traffic
safety awards received by the Dis
trict of Columbia. The luncheon
was sponsored jointly by the Wash
inpton Board of Trade and the Dis
trict division of the American Auto
mobile Association in cooperation
with the National Safety Council.
Awards Are Cited.
Because OF the Districts traff1c
safety record for 1916 it received
the National Traffic Safety Contest
grand award and a second place
award in the National Pedestrian
Protection Contest. Additionally
the luncheon will honor the Capital
Transit Co. and the A. B. ~ M.
Transit Co. of Alexandria for safety
awards received from the American
transit ASSOClabiOtl.
Aim of the Presidents Highway
Safety Conference. which opened
yesterday, is to promote safer mo-
torists and pedestrians so that
10000 lives can be saved this year
Aim of the gathering is to pro-
mote safer motorists and pedes-
trians so that 10000 lives can be
saved this year.
A panel discussion of the gen.
eral traffic problem was held yes
terday by representatives from
is States. Morgan Beatty, NBC
commentator. was moderator.
Call for Accident Da4s.
A report by the committee on ac-
cident records, headed by DR..
George Gallup, said high city and
State officials were failing to CO.
operate with police in collecting
data for accident reports.
Unless and until administrators
of all the concerned departments
recognize that the only sound and
economical accident prevention &C
tivities are those based on facts
facts obtsinable only from a good
records system-we cannot expect
worth while Improvements In this
field" the report said.
The committee on laws and ordi-
nances. headed by Judge Florence
E. Allen of the Sixth Circuit Court
Of Appeals, Cleveland, said the Is
months before State Legislatures
convene again must be used TO pre-
pare uniform traffic legislation for