Evening star., 1950-05-23
Secret Citizen Corps
To Report Traffic
'VioIators Studied

The Commissioners Traffic Ad-
visory Board has under study a
plan to recruit a large force of
citizens who would inform author
tiles of traffic violations undetected
by police.
The plan was submitted by Traf-
fic Director George E. Keneipp at
last nights meeting of the board
in the Municipal Center. Y Mr..
Keneipp emphasized he was not
actually suggesting that it be put
into use in Washington, but that
it was worth looking into"
The idea was contained in an
article which appeared in the April
issue Of the Kiwanis magazine. a
copy of which the traffic director
presented to the board.
According to the article, such a
system Of 1T (for Trafic) Men"
has been used so effectively in
Dallas, Tex. that the traffic death
rate has been cut in half during
the last II years. a.
Members Unknown.
In Dallas, according to the ar
ticle, $50 private citizens. each of
whom is unknown to the public
and to his fellows, report any traf-
fic infraction they happen to wit
ness. The chief of police then
sends the violator a "fatherly let
ter explaining the hazards of un-
safe driving.
There is no fine or ticket in
volved, and the letter is supposed
to work on the motorists con-
science" In 1947, the article said,
the program resulted in 11,670
such letters being sent.
Although no formal action was
taken by the board, Chairman
Arthur j. Sundlun directed the
article to the Committee on Edu-
cation, headed by A. Julian Bry-
laWSkl, 1Or STUDY.
Bridge Traffic Jumps.
In other business Mr.. Keneipp
reported that on O typical day
since the opening of the new
Highway Bridge, the traffic count
for both new and old bridges to-
tailed about $1,000, "far in excess
Of what we figured" This COM
pared with a typical 65.107 for
the old Highway Bridge.
Emphasizing that the bridge
had not been in operation long
enough for a significant tally, Mr..
Keneipp attributed the increase
to people experimenting on
routes and curiosity seekers"
Mr.. Keneipp also disclosed that
overall traffic in the city has in
creased 1874 per cent over that in
1941 and 1915 per cent over last
years. However. he noted a 34.5
reduction over the Anacostia
Bridge, which he attributed to the
opening of the new South Capitol
Street Bridge.
Inspector William j. Cunning
ham, in charge of traffic for the
Metropolitan Police. submitted q
report of figures comparing the
period from January 1 through
April 80 of this year with the same
period last year. The figures
showed an increase in traffic acci-
dents 900, traffic injuries (42),
property damage 1860, personal
injuries (95) and total traffic
arrests Q0,50D. The report noted
q decrease Of three in traffic deaths
for the period.
Three Traffic Awards.
MIR. Keneipp also disclosed that
Washington had won three out OF
nine possible first place awards In
the National Traffic Safety Con-
test. These were for enforcement
engineering and traffic safety
education.
The traffic director also SUBJ
mitted q breakdown of Wash
[ington's 1949 Traffic Accident
Experience" the first such com.
piled. Among other things, II
showed:
The ratio Of injured to killed
was rs to I.
The most dangerous hour of the
day for accidents was S to 6 pm
There were IS accidents daily
on the average.
There were more accidents or
Saturday than any other day OF
the week.