Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-30

New traffic regulations" to take the
place Of article XII of the police regu.
lations. We're adopted today by the boarC
OF commissioners of the District of Co.
iumola and will be effective about Febru-
airy l. The regulations are comprehen.
SlVe III every detail, and if diligently ad.
hered to both by pedestrians and drivers
of vehicles will, it is believed by the Com.
missioners. prevent congestion Of traffic
and be a bar to accidents. They clearl,
define the rights of all vehicles on the
streets, and emphasize the fact that pc
destrians shall have the right Of way
over vehicles at street crossings and al
right angles. 1t is pointed out by the
Commissioners that pedestrians in Wash
ington cross streets at all angles and
in some of the busiest sections cut
across diagonally. Reports of the police
department show that majority Of the
accidents to pedestrians happen when
those on foot cross the streets in the mid
angles.
Relating to Electric Lines.
A regulation which will be welcomed
by pedestrians is one ordering that no
vehicle shall approach within fifteen feet
of street car which has stopped or is
stopping to take on or let off passengers
This particular section is ordered to cor
rect the'confusion and dangers to persons
on such streets as F, in boarding or
getting off street cars.
The vehicles also are required to remain
in the rear of the alighting place until
passengers who have gotten off cars get
to the sidewalks. Although the Com
missiOners feel that this regulation will
seem drastic to many automobiles, it is
declared that this is the only regulation
that will solve the problem which has
been bothering the police. However, on
wide streets. such as Pennsylvania ave
nue., vehicles may pass cars at twenty
feet to the right. if such space exists.
Commissioner John A. Johnston with
Counsel William Henry White and
Ralph B. Pratt. secretary to Commits
sioner Johnston. compiled the regula-
tfons. The question Of regulating traf-
f1c in the District has been studied for
months, and the rules were recon-
mended to the board Of Commissions
ers by Gen. Johnston. after he had
thoroughly considered the suggestions
offered by the present regulations, the
regulations Of other municipalities. the
suggestions Of Maj. Richard Sylvester,
superintendent Of police; the interstate
commerce commission, the Board of
Trade, the local press and individuals.
Crossings Policemen in Control.
Under the new regulations crossing po-
licemen at busy corners will have entire
control of the traffic, and to keep the
traffic moving the policeman may stop
vehicular traffic for the time should it be
SO great as to prevent pedestrians from
crossing the street. This may be done
by the policeman extending Moth arms
laterally, hands above the head and
palms outward: and having thus stopped
the traffic on said street will face to the
right or left and indicate by a wave of
both hands across the body a free pas
sage for the traffic ON the other street
The blowing of a whistle may be used
instead of or in connection with these
signals to indicate alienation of passage.
Drivers of the vehicles of the police
fire, health and water departments, and
drivers of hospital ambulances and of
physicians on emergency calls should
have the right of way over all other ve-
hicles and on the sound of the bells or
horns the street is to be cleared as nearly
as possible. AT the approach of any fire
apparatus all other vehicles are to be
driven as near as practical and parallel
to the right curb, where they will stop.
Except in cases of accident or emer-
gency no person will be permitted tu
without written permission from the SUI
perintendent of police Under no circum-
stances may one vehicle draw more than
one other vehicle, and then they must be
not further than ten feet apart. Over
loaded or unsafe vehicles those that
for any reason are likely to delay traf-
fic will not be allowed on the streets
Prohibits Unnecessary Noise.
The regulations will prohibit unneces-
sary footing of horns by Joy riders, -
explaining that the horn or any other
signal is to be used only to give warn
ing TO pedestrians or other vehicles Iron
or anything loaded on wagons which will
make Changing noise must he wrapped
in such a way To prevent undue
noise No vehicle snail have its load
extend above the sides, nor shall any
part of the load extend outside of the
wheel hub. No part of the load shall
protrude more than ten feet in the rear
Of the wagon, nor shall the coupling
pole. without special permission from the
superintendent of police.
No vehicle or animal of any kind shall