Evening star., 1901-02-12
RULES OF STREET TRAFFIC
HOW THEY ARE ENFORCED IN NEW
YORK AND LONDON.
Offenders Are Summarily Dealt Will
and Given a Short Shift to
the Police Court.

'Tf tho rule in force in New York and
London were instituted in Washington as
to the regulation Of street traffic, such ac-
cidentS as occurred on Connecticut avenue
between q fire truck and street car would
be reduced to a minimum said w. F.
Weaver, a well-known horseman OF New
York. at the Arlington this morning.
1.-The rule is iron-clad. copper riveted. In
the metropolis that all vehicles In the
streets, including street cars, shall come to
a full stop upon the sight or approach Of a
fire engine, and, in the case Of wheeled We
hlcles, shall draw up to the curb remain
stationary until the passing of the engine.
THE drivers of vehicles in these two
cities, and perhaps in others of which I
cannot speak. pull up and stop their horses
the moment the clang of q fire engine Is
heard In New York the motorman would
have obeyed the warning signal of the citi-
zen in this unfortunate affair instinctively,
and stopped, as he would have known, as
this motorman must have known. that the
street he was approaching was one upon
which a fire engine or truck was situated,
and even II he did not hear the bell, he
would have accepted the warning in
dicaton that the truck was near and stop
ped and waited.
Do Not Try to Dodge Engines.
1.-THE drivers Of vehicles and the motor
men do not try to dodge the engine, nor do
they try to determine the direction 1t is
going. They stop and wait. Every driver
and motorman In New York knows Of this
rule and obeys 1t. This is the reason why
collisions in the densely packed streets Of
that city are so rare Their frequency and
deadly results in Washington ought to lead
to the drastic enforcement of a similar rule.
In New York the horses on the fire ma
chimes dash at headlong gallop through
thn 1o1 = fn L,,A D. *
rigid observance of the rule there would be
a dozen accidents q week.
''If the driver of a wagon or private car
riage or the motorman fails to or shows
any d1sinclinatfon to come to standstilI
q big policeman has his horse by the head
in jiffy. or Is shaking his finger under
the nose of the motOrman, with threats Of
arrest in metropolitan language, which is
effective. II impolite. So fixed Is this rule
in the minds of our population that an Of
Tending driver Is called to and yelled at
by the pedestrians on the sidewalk and
ofttimeS sour dly called down and berated
for his carelessness.
1T Is an inspiring sight to see an engine
dash madly down crowded street like
Broadway, with all the wagons and trucks
pulled up to one side. the cars stationary.
forming q clear passageway in the dense
tbicket OF traffic. 1t Is all done in few
seconds of time. and as the engine passes
the street becomes packed again.
Rigid Enforcement Imperative.
Il have noticed here that the cars 20
along about the same and the vehicles take
the chance of collision by continuing their
course. evidently relying upon the width of
the streets to escape injury. I have never
seen an officer jump into the street and
grasp a bride, as have a hundred times
In my city.
1.-The same practice prevails in London.
There the police rule with firm discipline
which is delightful to the American visitor
to behold used as he is to the more lax
rules in his own country. The English en-
gines fly along in cleared lanes between the
crowded cabs and vehicles. A mere nod of
the head or the raising Of policeman's
hand Is enough in London.
ut would seem 10 me that the rule should
be enforced in this city without mercy
favor, discrimination exceptions. The
police. by virtue of their powers as such
have ample authority to make arrests. If
1t is considered that they have not author
ity such should be given them by ordinance
but authority unenforced is worse than no
authority at all. Motormen should be forth
with and summarily taken Off their cars
under arrest without regard as to the time
schedule or temporary block Of cars re-
hurry in New York. Policemen should
mount the seat Of wagon Of an offending
driver, place him under arrest and cause
him to drive. himself and the officer to the
Police Court-also a frequent sight in the
metropolis. Once the drivers of vehicles
and the motormen on cars understand that
the police mean business they will con-
form very speedily to the rule. They won't
otherwise If dozen ordinances are passed
or whatever other action may be taken by
those in authority. No driver gives heed
to rules or ordinances which are not en-
forced. and the time to make them known
Is In instances prior to accidents and not
subsequent.
Question of Increased Speed.
IT have noticed that the motormen Of
this city seem bent upon the maintenance
OF their time schedule over all else. If the
remarks of Senator Mcmillan which read
in The Star few days ago, that the con-
veniences of the public and the urgencies Of
rapid transit were to take precedence. and
that instead of twelve miles an hour limit
speed being the maximum twenty would
be allowed II deemed expedient by the SEN
ate District committee, are to be taken lit
orally the tendency will be to maintain
their speed at all hazards. and the next ac-
cident Of the kind will probably be the
dashing at full speed Of a fire engine
horses and ALL in the center of moving
street car and resulting accident sicken.
ing to contemplate.
Certainly rules in force in great centers
of population and traffic sitch as New York
and London are not to be considered in
consequential. based, as they are, upon
/ Passengers In a street car are helpless.
Their rights are equal to those of the COM
/ pany or to the exigencies of the times
Their only protection. therefore, lies in the
absolutely rigid enforcement of the police
power. II these accidents happen at twelve
miles an hour maximum the possibilities
Of casualties at twenty miles maximum
are unpleasant. to- think about" essgss&
Arnfl n~-<~-s~v 3efs