Evening star., 1949-09-13
Accidents Drop
Here as Traffic
Arrests Rise
Advisory Board Told
SeIective Enforcement,
By Areas Is Factor

SeIectIve enforcement
By Areas Is Factor
Traffic arrests in the District
have increased. and accidents here
have decreased-and Inspector
Arthur E. Miller thinks the traf-
five divisions "selective enforce
ment" system is at least partly
the explanation of both.
To date this year there have
been 100000 arrests of traffic
violators. This is an increase of
6,742 over the arrests up to the
same time last year. Concur
rently, there have been fewer ac-
cidents recorded and six fewer
traffic deaths so far than there
were at this time in 1948.
"Selective enforcement" ex-
planned Inspector Miller during a
meeting last night of the Com
|missioners' Traffic Advisory Board,
is a system whereby the areas
with the most accidents are pa
troled most heavily. And when
the accidents decrease the traf-
f1c division policemen are assigned
to another crucial spot. The sys-
tenn has been in effect about
eight months.
All assignments are made from
"a large map kept in the traffic
division Office. Called the "hit
parade" by the men in the divi-
sion, it shows the location of all
accidents.
Cards Record Reasons.
A card reference list of all acci-
dents is kept also. telling why an
accident happened, and how.
From the map and file, Capt
Lorraine T. johnson of the traffic
division and Inspector Miller as
sign their motorcycle patrolmen
to certain vital spots. The assign
ments are changed weekly, if the
accidents decrease at the patroled
areas. Then other spots are Sc
lected for intensive patrol
Under the old system" In
spector Miller said, Officers mere
ly were assigned to cover a GER
tain general area. They had no
way of knowing, for sure, what
spots in those areas were the most
dangerous. And some policemen
just patroled streets with which
they were familiar.
Nov. however, we assign each
man to cover a specific street or
streets we know to be particularly
dangerous.
Three Principal Violations.
Inspector Miller said his men
are instructed to pay particular
emphasis to motorists committing
these violations: s
/. Excessive speed.
2. Failure to yield right of way
8. Following too closely.
Such violations, he said, cause
a large number of accidents.
The "selective enforcement
system was developed after three
months of paper work by Inspec-
tor Miller, Capt. johnson ane
Sergt. Lee s. Hensley.
Inspector Miller said a similar
system in regard to accidents in
volving children, particularly pc
destrians, has been in effect about
six months.
A complete report is written out
on each accident involving child
This report is sent to the school
safety officer in the precinct in
which the child lives. The officer
talks to the parents, learns more
facts.
Other Children Warned.
Then, in talks to school children
in the area. he tells the story OF
the child involved, and why the
accident happened.
Inspector Miller feels this per
sonalized approach" is the reason
why the District. this year, had no
school-age children killed during
the summer vacation.
In other business at the brief
meeting of the board. held in the
warehouse of the Kane Moving
g. Storage Co.. lis @ street NE,
the group backed move to call
one-day highway safety con-
ference here.
The board approved motion
by Traffic Director George
Keneipp that it request the Com
missioners to call a conference
of safety officials from the Dis
trict and nearby Maryland and
Virginia.
Mr.. Keneipp said this would be
in line with a suggestion by the
Presidents Highway Safety Con-
ference.
The business program OF the
board was brief, since wives of
board members were invited.
After the meeting they were
guests of Mr.. and Mrs. Francis
Kane at a reception.
Federal Worke