Evening star., 1948-06-22
Traffic Analysis
is Released by
Advisory Board
Grotz Says District
Downeroded Because
Of Misconceptions

An analysis of Washington's traf-
f1c situation which also gave some
idea of how it stands nationally
was released last night at the final
meeting of the season of the Com
missioner's Traffic Advisory Board.
The report concerned the Dis
trict's submission of data in con-
nection with the National Traffic
Safety Contest of 1947 for cities
having 100000 or more population.
Comparative data covering the other
13 cities involved was not available
at the meeting.
George E. Grotz. field representa-
tive of the National Safety Council,
said he thought the District was
down graded because Of omissions
ard misconceptions"
Good Job Done Last Year"
1T is obvious that in view Of
the good job that was done by the
District of Columbia last year in
placing third among the IA cities
that some items of performance
were underreported and the report
did not include everything" he said.
Traffic Director George E.. Ken
elpp added that the inconsistencies
result from "a misunderstanding of
what should have gone in the re-
port" 1t was pointed out that the
year before last Washington placed
first in the contest.
In the competition just ended,
the report showed the District at
tanned total score of 69l points
out of possible 100.
With 65 deaths last year, which
did not include seven from street.
car accidents, the report showed
that out of possible 30 points
the District scored It's, to, rank
third among the IA cities. With
1857 accidents in which persons
were injured and 1887 accidents
involving property damage, score
of 81 points out of a possible IL
was attained, to give Washington
fifth pace.
Traffic Engineering.
In traffic engineering, which in
wolves study of high-accident loca-
tions, preparation of collision charts
and SO on, the city scored los points
out OF possible ID for ninth place.
Traffic law enforcement figures
showed 1852 accidents investigated
at the scene, with 1896 prosecuted,
4,022 convictions. and police COM
plants responsible for an estimated
80 per cent of the prosecutions.
Among other classes, 1850 written
warnings on parking were issued,
there were 282 arrests and sum-
monses for driving while intoxi-
Gated, 41,238 on other road and
driving laws, and 89.179 arrests or
summonSeS on parking violations.
In general. avery high rate of con.
Yictions was maintained.
In this section, the District scored
12.1 points out of a possible 16,
ranking third among the cities.
In school safety, covering patrol
activity, instruction in driving and
other such matters, Washington was
given seven points out of a possible
IL, to rank ninth. Public educa-
ton brought it 1l3 points out of a
possible IA, to rank sixth, and in
safety organization, two points out
of possible two were made, to rank
the District third.
Recommendations Given.
The following recommendations
were offered in connection with the
report:
Adoption of standard-type acci-
dent report forms. preparation of
standard-type monthly and annual
summaries, filing of original acci-
dent reports by location. giving Of
more attention to accident data
preparation in connection with en-
forcement planning and more studies
of accident records for planning
educational work.
Tribute to the citys newspapers
for publicizing the number of traffic
tickets Cancelled or resulting in
warnings each week, was paid by
the boards Enforcement Committee,
in a supplementary report pertain
ing to the Presidents Highway
Safety Conference.
THE recent publicity by the
newspapers each week as to the
number of tickets adjusted and
warnings issued has been OF value
in some respect" the report, read
by Nathan M. Lubar, said.
In another action, the board ap-
proved a $4,000 budget for it's activ-
tiles in 1949 1t had not requested
an increase in funds.
The meeting was held in Munich
pal Center The next session will
be September 20.
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