The Detroit Tribune

Watch Out For Kids
Child
Traffic
Accidents
Increased
In
April
A 23 per cent increase in child traffic accidents in Detroit in April has alarmed Detroit police and traffic safety officials.
Thirty-six more young pedestrians and bike riders were struck down and injured in April this year than during the same month in 1961, records of the Detroit Police Department show.
A total of 194 youngsters were injured in April.
Inspector Rexniear Staats, Commanding officer of the police department's Traffic Safety Bureau said that total child injuries through April this year were up six per cent with four young pedestrians fatally injured. Fatalities were two lower this year, he said.
"One of the factors leading to the increase in injuries has been the warm, pleasant weather," he said. "Children cooped up all winter played outdoors as much as they could and this made the possibilities for accidents greater."
The Traffic Safety Association pointed out that May was an even better month weatherwise than April and that if injuries continued at the same rate, the child accident problem would be grave.
The Association and police are conducting a program based on the theme:
"WATCH OUT FOR KIDS."
Inspector Staats had this advice for parents, children and drivers:
"Parents should go outside with their children, point out the dangers and then tell them exactly how to cross streets safely. They should also instill a sense of personal responsibility for crossing streets in the youngsters.
"Children should end all 'chase' games at the curb and regard the street as a 'no man's land.'
Drivers must be doubly alert whenever they are on residential streets where children are at play."