Evening star., 1963-01-12
Carnage on the Road

1t is no wonder that furry of con-
Germ is being expressed at all levels Of
government in this part of the country
over the heavy toll of traffic fatalities.
These CORY statistics have a tendency
to fluctuate from time to time, like the
weather, for no apparent reason. The
year-end figures now rolling in, how
ever, have an awful sort of uniformity
which suggests that the carnage on the
highways during 1862 was something
extraordinary enough to require drastic
and immediate action.
Consider these statistics: In Mary
land, traffic deaths leaped from Is
year low of 461 in 1861 to an all-time
high of 587 last year. Virginia'S Govern
or Harrison reported the appalling
slaughter" of 996 victims-110 above
1861. While the rate of increase was
smaller, IS persons died in the District
of Columbia, 35 of them pedestrians.
Arlington's fatalities rose from seven in
1861 to 10 last year. In the Washington
Metropolitan Area as a whole, the toll
reached an estimated 228 dead-nearly
rs per cent above the previous year and
the highest in the areas history.
Why? What is the explanation for
this sudden surge of destruction? With
in the local Jurisdictions, Motor Vehicle
Director George England is impressed
that drinking drivers were involved in
Al per cent of all the Districts fatal
traffic accidents fact which, as he
points out, argues strongly for an effec-
tive law to test driver -intoXication in
accident cases. Governor Tawes believes
that Maryland's "black year" is due
partly to faulty cars, and thus he has
strongly urged program OF annual
automobile inspection. A Fairfax prose-
cutor thinks the tremendous overload
on highways and the congestion 1t causes
is the major traffic problem" other
officials cite excessive speed, careless
ness, road-hogging-to mention just a
few.
And of course these are all valid
factors. But they are not the whole
story The Richmond Times Dispatch
is currently performing valuable pub
lie service by disclosing and campaign
ing against incredibly lax enforcement
Of driver-license revocations in its region.
In one instance, that newspaper docu-
ments the case OF single individual
who, in period Of IL years, has been
convicted once for having no operators
license, six times for driving after revo-
cation Of license, three times for reck-
less driving and twice for drunk driving.
He was involved In five accidents. On
the seven driver-license charges he was
fined a grand total Of $3.50. On three
OF the charges, he was sentenced to
total OF nine months in Jail. On the
other four, he escaped jail entirely.
The Dispatch is convinced
that this is no isolated case In Richmond,
and we are willing to bet that there are
parallels elsewhere-our own area in
cluded-which are Just as flagrant. In
deed, Mr.. England freely comedies the
existence Of cases in District files show
ing repeated traffic offenses after IL
cense revocation. Certainly this is one
area in which enforcement officials can
and should crack down-hard.
In Virginia, Governor Harrison has
called for public forums in every local
community OF the State to seek more
effective means of curtailing traffic &C
cdents Perhaps such meetings would
serve useful purpose in stimulating
greater public awareness Of the danger
For the most part, however, the causes
Of traffic fatalities are we'll known, and
the greatest hope for their reduction, In
our opinion, rests with more vigorous
action by the public officials who are
responsible for enforcing the law.