The Washington herald., 1911-06-11

Before school opens next fall 1t Is
likely that a request will be made Of the
board of education by the Automobile
Club asking that a method of teaching
children how to cross a street properly
be included In the fire drills.
A large percentage of automobile ao-
c;dents are the result OF carelessness on
;he part Of children rather than the
fault of drivers.
Sometime ago the question Of prohibit
ing roller skating was brought TO the at
tentton of the Commissioners, but they
announced themselves as powerless to do
anything, saying the streets are public
highways and the children had a per-
feet right to use them,
However, they admitted that roller
skating in a form that would menace
pedestrians would not be tolerated
Hence the motorists deem that as long
as the children use the streets they
should be taught their dangers and how
to avoid them.
The idea in holding fire drills is not SO
much TO teach the children how to escape
from building in the quickest manner
possible, but to teach them seIf-conff-
dence. Fire gongs are rung at the time
when least expected and all OF the classes
are marched from the building without
the least disorder.
Done by Instinct.
The children have impressed upon their
minds just what he or she is supposed to
do when they hear the gong. and more
by instinct than anything else they carry
IL out
However, once outside Of the building
after hours. they are unmindful Of any
danger. They walk across the street
laughing and playing entirely oblivious OF
the possibility OF being run down by a
passing street car or automobile. Many
times they run directly in front Of the
yehicle or dodge back and forth until
the operator cannot tell which way to
turn to avoid them.
Many accidents to children caused by
automobiles are the result of youngsters
suddenly jumping in front Of the vehi-
cles while at play. They do not realize
that owing to q slippery street or defec-
tive brakes the driver is unable to stop
suddenly. Warnings in school and in
structions on how to cross the street
would remind the youngsters the neces-
sity Of constant watckfulness.
The number Of automobiles In Washing
ton is increasing daily, and naturally
among the operators of machines in this
city there are many who are inexpe-
rienced. They have not owned cars long
enough to fsmilariZe themselves with
the operation of brakes, and in time of
emergency they are liable to become
confused. To the man not accustomed
to drive a car. nothing is more confusing
than to have some one suddenly run
in front of him or step OF the curb d.
rectly IN his path.
Happens Every Day.
Every automobile owner in Washing
ton can tell Of some occasion when he
was called upon to stop his car suddenly
OF else hit some one.
Washington is conceded by those who
have had experience in driving cars In
New York, Philadelphia, and elsewhere,
where traffic conditions are much more
congested to be a more difficult city to
drive car. There are traffic regulations
here like in every other city, but it is
seldom they are enforced. Drivers OF
vehicles are also offenders in this regard.
Instead OF going to the corner and
making a right or left turn after pass
ing the middle of the street, as they do
in other cities, or turning around after
first holding up a hand or displaying
some warning signal TO those following
behind. they simply turn wherever IL
suits their convenience, and leave It to
the man behind to do the best he can to
dNOlQ IueIIl I1SdNy ledInS 90 not Keep
close TO the curb, as they should to facili-
tate traffic, but instead spread all over
the street.
One regulation that has been put into
effect lately and which is helping some
what to remedy conditions is the police
regulation requiring that all vehicles must
face the way traffic is headed when left
alongside the curb.
: A new set of trafflc regulations some
a
York have been submitted to the Com
missioners for their approval by William
Phelps Emo, who drew up the New York
law. In the metropolis, where there is
five times as much traffic as in this city,
no trouble is experienced in handling 1t.
Every one is supposed to know the law
Of the road, and II one does not. a men,
Der Of the traffic squad soon sets him
right on 1t.