Evening star., 1947-10-01
keneiipp Urges
Fingerpriinting
0fD.C. Drivers
Says Move Would
Eliminate Fruud
And Reduce Crime

Fingerprinting of automobile
drivers in the District was recon-
mended today by Traffic Director
George E. Keneipp In his annual
report to the Commissioners.
Such a requirement, he said,
would eliminate impersonations
and frauds, would largely defeat the
purpose of the fictitious address and
would serve as a deterrent to the
use Of automobiles in the commits
sion of crime"
A vision test every six years for
automobile license holders also was
advocated by Mr.. Keneipp .as a
means of lessening traffic hazards.
Sharp Drop in Fatalities.
One of the high lights of the ifs
cal year, the director said, was the
decline in traffic fatalities to the
lowest level on record and the gain
in motor vehicle registration which
nearly approximated those recorded
in the peak year of 1941. Traffic
deaths dropped from 81 in the fiscal
year 1946 to II in the year ended
last June 80, while registrations rose
from 1926, ,402 to 1865 $3.50 in the same
time.
Revelations and suspensions were
given 7,498 drivers during the year,
the report said, and In addition $50
other drivers were put on the black
list as drug addicts and for traffic
offenses. During the fiscal year 1946,
there were only 1904 suspensions
and revocations.
The inspection section Of the de-
partment inspected 02,845 vehicles
during the year. OF this number
1911 were rejected for one cause
or another on the first inspection,
but most of them passed the second
inspection after repair work had
been done.
Most Deaths at Night.
In an analysis of accidents, the re-
port points out that 80 per cent of
all traffic accidents and So per cent
of all fatal accidents happened at
night. The most hazardous hours for
were between 4 and 6 PM,
while the safest period was between
4 and 7 am. Friday, Saturday and
were the most dangerous
days OF the week, the report said.
Most of the accidents occurred at
while most Of the fatal
accidents took place between inter-
sections, and the majority Of the
accidents occurred on clear, dry days
Passenger cars were involved in
So per cent of all accidents, COM
vehicles in 16 per cent and
taxicabs Is per cent.
The traffic engineering division of
the department did a good job dur
ing the year, the report showed, in
traffic signals and in
stalling signals where it was found
they were needed. During the year,
1886 new parking meters were in
stalled, bringing the total number
of meters in the city up to 652. The
District derived more than $61 900
in revenue from the meters.
Safety Education Cited.
The Motor Vehicle Agency con-
tinued the policy of giving private
assistance in providing
needed off street parking facilities
Reduction and redistribution of
parking demand was sought through
express bus service, fringe parking
and turnover Of existing parking
spaces. The agency made available
/ 300 off-street parking spaces.
The traffic safety education car
ried on by the department during the
year had far-reaching effects, the
report said, and called attention to
the campaigns conducted during the
year with the assistance of the news
papers, radio and motion picture
theaterS,