Evening star., 1950-05-23
Plan for Secret
Citizen Traffic
Corps Studied
Advisory Boord Told
How Dollos Drivers
Are Reported. Warned


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 Z. Keneipp at
last nights meeting Of the board
in the Municipal Center. Mr..
Keneipp emphasized he was not
actually suggesting that it be put
into use in Washington, but that
II was worth looking into"
The idea was contained in an
article which appeared in the April
issue Of the Kiwanis magazine. =
copy of which the traffic director
presented to the board.
According to the article, such q
system OF IT (for Trafficl Men"
has been used effectively in Dallas,
Tex. enough to cut the traffic
death rate in half during the last
ii years.
"emutrs UNKNOWN.
In Dallas. according to the ar
ticle, there is a group Of $50 pri-
vate citizens. each Of whom Is
unknown to the public and to his
fellows. who report any traf1ic in
fraction they happen to witness.
The chief Of police then sends the
violator "fatherly letter" explain
ing the hazards OF unsafe driving.
There is no fine or ticket in
volved, and the letter is supposed
to work on the motorists con-
science" In l947. the article said.
the program resulted in ll.670
such letters being sent.
Those recruited are "just ordi-
nary citizens, chosen for their
common sense interest in COM
munity service"
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-
lawski. for study.
Some members recalled that q
somewhat similar, although not
identical. system had been used
in Washington some years ago
and had aroused considerable
criticism.
Bridge Traffic Jumps.
In other business Mr.. Keneipp
reported that on a 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 typical 65.lo7 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"
Ma Keneipp also disclosed that
overall traffic in the city has in
creased 38.4 per cent over that in
194l and l0.6 per cent over last
years. However. he noted a 345
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 / through
April 80 Of this year with the same
period last year. The figures
showed an increase in traffic acci-
dents (404. traffic injuries 42),
property damage 1861, personal
injuries t95) and total traffic
arrests Q0,500. The report noted
decrease of three in traffic deaths
for the period. -
Three Traffic Awards.
Mr.. Keneipp also disclosed that
Washington had won three out OF
nine possible first place awards in
the National Traffic Safety Con-
test. These we're for enforcement,
engineering and trafic safety
education.
The traffic director also sub
mitted a breakdown Of Wash
ington's l949 Traffic Accident
Experience" the first such COM
piled. Among other things. 1t
showed:
The ratio Of injured to killed
was rs to !.
The most dangerous hour of the
day for accidents was S to 6 pm.
There were 35 accidents daily,
on the average.
There were more accidents on
Saturday than any other day OF
the week.
The mileage death rate deaths
per 100 million vehicle miles of
traveD was 3.l4. Mr.. Kneipp said
this was about half the national
average" and the best showing
Washington has ever had"
65 Per Cent of Fatalities at Night.
Fifty-eight per cent Of all acci-
dents happened in daylight, and 10
per cent. in clear weather.
Sixty-five per cent Of fatal acci-
dents occurred at night, and rs per
cent. in clear weather.
One in every IA accidents drivers
was woman.
Every tenth adult pedestrian
killed in accidents was under the
influence Of alcohol.
Fifty -one pedestrians were killed.
and 2,l62 were injured.
-Four in every five PEDESTRIANS
killed contributed TO their fate
through careless crossing or walk
ing.
One in every two cars presented
on initial inspection was rejected
for failure to meet legal safety re-