Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-15
Drop in Traffic Deaths Noted
As Nation Marks SD Day
Presidents 'Sofe- Driving PIeo Credited;
D. G. Accidents Are Fewer Than Usual

FeWer mon OSuQI
this year has been about four
per hour.
SD Day in the District also
got off to- a promising start
Only II accidents had been re-
ported by noon, and only two
of these caused personal injury
BY 1880 am. on an average
day, five accidents normally are
on the books. At that hour this
morning. police had reported
only three. Police attributed dry
weather as a contributing factor
to the better safety showing.
Police on the streets were to
call in all accidents to the acct
dent investigation unit through
out the day to keep authorities
posted with up-to-the-m minute
information on the safe-driving
campaign here. Full reports
were to be made available later
3 Women Badly Hurt.
In Washington's two personal
injury accidents, three women
and a 7-month-old girl were in
jured slightly in collision at
1927 am. at Fourth and F
streets NE. All were treated at
Casualty Hospital and released
A Washington man was in
jured slightly in another crash
at Thirtieth and @ streets NV
The city's first accident, a
passenger car crashing into a
retaining wall at Fifth and JEFF
ferson streets NV, occurred at
2:15 am.
SD Day is led by the Presi-
dents Action Committee fol-
Highway Safety.
Ordinary Day Picked.
Today was chosen because 1t
is an ordinary weekday. A
committee spokesman said it was
selected to stress that motor
lists and pedestrians could be
careful every day of the week.
not simply during holiday Pc
RODS"
In another SD Day observ-
ance, students enrolled in driver
training programs in District
high schools received q bonus
lecture this morning in Munich
pal Court.
Two pupils each from IA high
schools offering this program sat
in on a session in the traffic
branch of the court after q brief
talk by Chief Judge Leonard P.
Walsh, who told them:
"We in the city of Washington
have an enviable traffic record
due to our ,law-abiding citizens
and the excellent work of the
police department."
Maryland went the Presidents
committee Is days better. The
State Traffic Safety Commission
voted to extend the SD cam
paign until January /.
The quickest means Of gauging
SD Days success or failure will
be the number of traffic deaths.
Motor vehicles slaughtered an
average of 81 persons a day in
the Nation through the first 10
months of this year.
President Eisenhower pleaded
for IAN unblemished record of
safety" for at least this one day.
Il have a deep conviction that
the United States can do any
thing to which 100 million citi-
zens set their hearts and minds, "
the Chief Executive said. IF we
are determined to have a day
without a traffic accident in all
of America. we can have it."
At his press conference today
the President said he was hoping
for the very best in the way of
traffic safety. He added he had
received a pledged of co-opera-
ton from 10000 persons in one
city, which he did not name.
Mindful that not all the 100
million can measure up to the
safety task, police were braced
for the clang of colliding cars.
Inspector William j. Liverman
of the Police Accident InveStiga-
ton Unit said the day will be a
success If persons heed three
simple rules:
Observe the letter and spirit
Of all traffic regulations, be
courteous to every driver and
pedestrian and devote full time
and attention when driving or
walking.
An American Automobile AS
ISOLATION team will select an out
standing driver from motorists
in the District today. The per-
cor, nl,ocar. +r, ,ov,roco,,f CO 70 ,a,.;,,