Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-10-14
Sofety Aide
Hits Record
OF Arrests

IcCIOI, odlu VIC VI pei CCliS
record of drunken driving con-
victions in this area is "hor-
ribly low"
A conviction rate of less than
80 per cent is considered a
poor enforcement record by
the American Bar Association
and the International Asso-
citation of Chiefs of Police, Mr..
Grotz said.
Mr.. Grotz spoke at the
eighth annual Commissioners
and Governors Conference on
Metropolitan Washington Traf-
fic Problems, a one-day meet
ing at the Mayflower Hotel.
He said Washington area
arrests and Investigations in
traffic accidents average less
than one-half that of COM
parable regions.
Police in this area average
3.9 traffic contacts arrests for
moving violations and accident
Investigations per man each
week, he said, compared with
10 per man each week in COM
parable areas.
The low rate of convictions
is a problem for both the courts
and police to solve, he said.
District Rating High
In overall traffic safety &C.
tivitieS, however, Washington
area has a rating of go per cent
compared to a so per cent ma
tional average, Mr.. Grotz said.
These ratings, he explained.
are based on standards drawn
up by such organizations as
the International Association
of Chiefs of Police and the In.
stitute of Traffic Engineering.
His report on the first area
wide inventory of traffic safety
activities showed a failure"
by public officials here to use
accumulated accident data to
help reduce the accident rate,
he charged.
Mr.. Grotz also emphasized
that more cooperation is need
ed among officials in different
Jurisdictions in the battle
against traffic accidents.
Discussing the advantages of
improving the traffic accident
picture in the Washington area,
Mr.. Grotz said that bodily in
jury insurance which costs $500
in the District could be pur-
chased in Norfolk, Va, for
only $50.
He said that property damage
insurance which costs $3.50 in
the District sells for $14 in
Norfolk.
Mr.. Grotz explained that
Norfolk has rating of 80 per
cent on its overall traffic safety
activities.
Police Standards Cited
He added that the District
has las fewer traffic policemen
than comparable jurisdictions.
He said that the area in
ventoried embraced the Dis
trict, Montgomery, Arlington
and Fairfax Counties, Falls
Church and Alexandria. He ex-
planned that Prince Georges
County was not included since
statistics from this county were
not available in time.
District Commissioner A. C.
yelling. chairman of the Metro
politan Area Traffic Council,
proposed several recommended
lions to reduce traffic hazards
in the Washington region. in
Guiding:
/. Legislation should be
passed in Maryland to require
periodic inspection of motor
vehicles.
2. Legislation should be
passed in both Maryland and
Virginia to impose a penalty of
imprisonment or a heavy fine
on drivers who, through negli-
gent practice cause the death
of another. He said this negli-
gent homicide law could be pat
termed after the one in use in
the District of Columbia.
3. Sufficient funds should be
provided to educate the public
in traffic safety.
4. Area traffic enforcement
should keep abreast" of the in
creasing traffic load.
5. Closer cooperation should
be obtained on the STANDARDIZED
ton of area traffic signs and
signals.
Urges Noise Controls
Gen. yelling also said that
he has asked the District Di-
rector of Motor Vehicles to es-
tablish some scientific stand
ards for setting the limits for
auto noise in the District.
He suggested that the execu-
tive committee of the Metro
politan Area Traffic Council
might want to draw up auto
noise and smoke control for
the area.
Gen. yelling also said there
is a need for a central area
composed of top busi-
ness and civic leaders to pro-
mote traffic safety.
He said this could be an
of non-Govern-
nent personnel while Govern
nent officials would serve on
the Metropolitan Area Council.
Arthur j. Sundlun, chairman
If thn nictrint Nitirnrr TIE g.