Evening star., 1953-06-04


lives here this year.
Tucked away in the city
budget is an item Of $40, 900
which the Commissioners Traf-
fic Advisory Board spends each
year to warn the public to watch
It's step in auto-logged Washing
ton.
That's about ga cents for
every District resident.
The way it was spent last year
brought Washington top place
among cities Of comparable size
in the National Safety Councils
annual traffic safety contest.
And it helped cut the traffic
death toll to IS, the lowest since
statistics have been kept.
The way it is. spent demon
Strates that it takes more than
an occasional arrest of q speeder
to instill safety into the public
mind and that it is a continu-
ing process.
Civic Groups Cooperate.
The $4,000 goes. a long way
because Of the voluntary CO.
operation of civic groups with
the boards Public Education
Committee. to which the money
is allotted.
The committee has q wide
range of activity and is propoS-
ing more. For example, one
plan for the future is' the plac-
ing of leaflets in all hotel rooms
to give tourists an idea Of Wash
ington traffic regulations.
Another plan is. to hand q
"Bill of Rights" pamphlet tc
each person entering Traffic
Court, either as an observer OF
a violator, listing the legal rights
of trafic-case defendants.
A third project calls for safety
club pledge cards, to be dis
tributed through the schools and
signed by the pupils parents,
Offlcial groups working or
traffic safety here are the board
the Department of Vehicles anc
Traffic, the Police Department.
Accident Investigation Unit, and
the schools.
Contest in Schools.
A safety slogan contest is be-
ing sponsored in the schools
with $4,000 entry forms distrib-
uted here and in nearby Mary
land, and Virginia.
The traffic safety program has
spilled over, necessarily into the
nearby areas. This came about
last year, when the board
spanked the first area wide traf-
fic conference under the auspices
of the Commissioners and the
governors of Maryland and Vir-
ginia. This led to a permanent
Metropolitan Area Traffic Coun-
Gil.
Much of the boards $4,000 is
spent in short safety films
which are shown in movie the
aters. on television, at recreation
areas and before private groups
One of these. "Obey the Traffic
Laws" has aroused wide interest
and last year was given a Ger
titfcate of merit by the National
Committee on Films for Safety
Two others, Courtesy Pays
and What Are You Going tC
Do With 1t?" are being, shown
now. and a third, THE Point
System" is ready for distribu-
ton. The boards public educa-
ton committee also plasters the
city with. slogan placards or
autos, buses and trucks, anc
attached to utility poles.
The one on utility poles now
"Obey the Traffic LaWs-Jay.
walkers Can Be Arrested"-is ar
example.
Bicycle ROdeos Planned.
The committee is working with
the Recreation Department tt
plan a series of bicycle rodeos
during the summer, at which
bicycle safety will be stressed
This is expected to become ar
area wide contest, with prizes
awarded good bike riders.
In addition to it's long -range
programs, the committee acts
in emergencies. Last March
when the Districts traffic death
toll was beginning to surpass
last years by ID to 8, the COM
mittee went on the air with 8
series of safety programs. This