The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-24
TO MINIMIZE THE DANGERS
Regulations Concerning the Use of
Automobiles Here.
Major Sylvester VIII Make Recon-
mcEdations TO the commissioners,
Throwing Safeguards Around HUI
man Lifc-Rights of Pedestrians.

Throwing Safeguards Around HUI
man Lifc-Rights of Pedestrians.
The dangerous condition of the streets
of Washington is q matter that has been
receiving the serious consideration Of
Major Sylvester. the Chief of Police OF
the District. for some time, and it is in
timated that the draft of several prospeC-
tive additions to the police regulations VIII
shortly be forwarded to the Commissioners
for approval.
Major Sylvester has been aware for some
time of the constantly increasing danger
to pedestrians and others on the public
thoroughfares. and has taken every means
in his power to correct the abuses that
give rise to this condition Of affairs So
far his efforts have been futile y corps
Of bicycle policemen were recently detailed
10 patrol the prominent thoroughfares and
arrest those persons that might be found
driving their vehicles at an unlawful rate
of speed. But few arrests have been made
and those who have been taken into court.
il Is claimed have escaped with light fines
The most serious offenders against the
speed regulation are the operators OF alto-
mobiles and other self-propelltrg vehi-
cles- said an old policeman today No
matter how sensible a man may normally
De. WIlElt tle Elt1CSS q liANiE hNNt14tt-A N--l'
l1pon mis- head and clasps the controller Of
an automatic vehicle in one hand and the
steering rod in the other ne appears to
loose all Judgment
When bicycles were introduced and the
smooth floor-like surfaces Of Washing
tons streets tempted the riders thereof
10 excessive speed the people we're awak-
eued to the new danger and regulations
were made and enforced that soon mini
mixed the danger. When rapid transit
was introduced upon the street railroads
the lawmakers again made and had en-
forced the necessary rules for the protec-
ton of the public. Among these rules was
the one which at the time was consid-
cred the aIl-im2Ortant one 1t compelled
the street car companies TO place tenders
and wheel guards upon every car
great deal OF attention was given to this
subject and the District Commissioners
personally investigated the merits Of the
various devices and stamped with their
approval those which they considered best
suited to che work required of them
Since the INTRODUCTION Of the seIf-pro-
peIIing vehicle practically nothing has
been done to relieve the dangerous con
ditions upon the streets and regulate the
: operation of the vehicles. 1t is no UncOm-
mon sight to see these vehicles spinning
/ over the smooth asphalt at from twenty
to thirty miles an hour, shooting around
corners with suddenness that drives
terror TO the hearts of even those who
are used to heavy travel and crowded
I roadways.
The increased speed Of these conveyance
IS. II is claimed. has encouraged the riders
of bicycles and the operators and drivers
OF other classes of vehicles TO increase
Z al
constant jeopardy the lives Of human he
/ ings upon the streets. To add to the Sc
/ robustness of the situation pedestrians fire.
quentIy cross streets with an Indifference
: 10 their surroundings that makes the OBJ
server vince for their safety.
/ II riders, drivers, and other controllers
OF vehicles upon the streets were no more
careful than the average foot passenger
remarked an old and observing street
/ crossing policeman today, the hospitals
/ and moreue would be unable to hold the
MANNED injured. and killed Continuing,
/ he said: 1T is not only their disregard
/ Of their safety that I nave noticed
I Ia many instances there is a studied
disregard Of the vehicles owing to q false
idea of the Tight-of-way Of the fOOtman-
/ Less than q week ago / had occasion 10
! hear man call out TO his companion,
! Don't jump out Of the way of that rig.
/ That man has better sense than to run
| over you. The operator Of the electric
| vehicle undoubtedly had better sense, but
! he was unable to bring his vehicle to
! standStiH quickly enough and as a result
/ the speaker who did not jump. viii be
| confined to the hospital for several
! weeks
! It IS believed that if proper regulations
( are provided and enforced rapid transit
/ can be accomplished with comparative
| safety. It is argued that the "a pidly NOV
| ing motor vehicles with their variable
! courses and quick turns, making il i'm
possible to determine in what direction
/ they viii be moving the uext second,
| should be provided with some safety de-
vice or fender for the protection OF those
| whom they may run down. Many ImpOr-
! tant defects in the regulations governing
/ the use Of the public streets, il is said
| are likely to be remedied when Major Svl-
| VesteT furnishes his views to the Com
1 -. - 49, ! =