Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-16
Traffic in the District.
To the Editor Of The Star:

10 the Eultor OF i ne star:
l saw some time since in The Star a
statement that Mr. Emo of New York
had suggested that the District should
adopt the traffic regulations which after
many years Of trial and experience had
been adopted in New York city, and
which are giving great satisfaction there
What those regulations are we are not
informed. except that when policeman
raises his hand the vehicles stop, in order
to prevent accidents.
There is no city in the country which
needs such regulation more than Wash
ington. for in none is there more reckless
driving and running Of automobiles than
in this. Here the common law right of
the pedestrian to the right of way is
utterly ignored, with the result that
scarcely day passes that some one is
not knocked down, run over and either
killed or seriously injured. The negro
drivers are especially careless. and not
unfrequently are sitting on their carts
fast asleep, but even when awake they
never turn out or hold up to avoid rum
ming over a pedestrian, and but very few,
if any. of the white drivers are any bet
ter.
AS to the automobilists, the majority of
them act as though no enc else has any
right on the streets. Three times l just
escaped being run over at 9th and G
streets, as an auto swung around the
corner just as 1 was stepping off the
curb to cross the street. and two of them
ulu IlOl SOuIu tIt1T norm or give any
signal whatever as they swung around
close to the curb. Again, as l was
standing on Pennsylvania avenue near
the track waiting for a car four men
though there was thirty feet of clear
roadway between me and the curb they
ran so close to me as to brush my leg
as they passed and laughed and ha-
haed though they thought it was a
very smart trick.
AS stated in the press the p0lice renOrf
shows six persons killed and 81 accidents
in which many were seriously injured in
nine months ending March 30. 1910, and
the number since has been equally great,
If not greater. in proportion Surely.
something ought to be done to render
more safe the lives and limbs of citizens
and the many strangers who visit the
National Capital.
| was much surprised to see that the
Commissioners and our excellent chief
OF police were opposing the adoption of
regulations which have proven so sue
cessful in a crowded city like New York.
And still more surprising is one Of the
reasons assigned for not making any
change in the present regulations. which
was that there are so many influential
people here who would object to taking
orders from the police, and would make
the latter trouble if they attempted to
give such OrderS!'
do not know to whom this refers, but
l had supposed that all alike were SUBJ
to protect the lives and limbs of all alike,
and that it is the moral If not the legal
duty of those in authority from the Presi-
dent down to set an example to others
by themselves obeying the laws. If we
have in our midst any persons who are
so high and mighty that they are at
liberty to endanger the lives of our citi-
zens, they should be compelled to wear a
big placard. so that others seeing it
might get out of their way in time.
The only other remedy would seem to
be for pedestrians to go armed. ready to
defend themselves in case of necessity.
OF course. there is another side to this
question. There are many who are
careless and often attempt to cross the
street without looking to see whether
there is a vehicle near or not. Then.
too there are many parents who permit
their children to play in the streets, and
the older boys who deliberately attempt
to cross in front of moving car or other
vehicle. and who seem to think it is
very smart to see how close they can
pass to the vehicle and not be run over
Another cause of accidents, especially
with the street cars is where passengers
alight and start to cross the street with
out looking to see whether a car is not
coming close by on the other track. A
delay of one minute or less, until the car
from which they alighted got out Of the
way so they can see the other track,
would prevent all such accidents.
No parent should permit young children
to play in the street, and all children
should be taught, both at home and at
school, to never cross in front of a car
or other moving vehicle when near. 1t
should be impressed upon them to wait
and go behind.
AS to the collisions SO frequently occur
ring between street cars and other vehi-
cles. the blame rests mainly on the lat
ter, for the cars never leave the track to
run into them, while with reasonable
care the other vehicles can avoid the
cars if the drivers will pay reasont bic
attention. In view of the conditions lex
listing here, it seems to me that there is
urgent need for improvement in the reg
ulations for street traffic.
w. C. DODGE.