The Washington herald., 1912-11-15
DRASTIC TRAFFIC
RULES PLANNED
FOR THE DISTRICT
Continued from Page One.

Continued from Page One.
| the Emo report, combining this with
parts OF the existing District regulations
and drawing also upon regulations In
force in other cities.
In a frank interview with a represent
alive of The Washington Herald yesteT-
day, Gen. Johnston admitted that he
| expected strong opposition from certain
quarters to some of the regulations he
| has decided to recommend to the Board
OF Commissioners. But he indicated
very clearly that he believes the present
situation calls for stringent remedial
| measures and that he will pursue the
| course he has determined upon in maxi
| ing his recommendations to the Board
and, in the event OF their adoption, in
| their administration by the Police De-
partment.
May BE Tested in Courts.
That certain of the proposed new regu-
letions will have to stand the test of the
courts. Gen. Johnson feels sure, and in
anticipation of this. he is framing them
with the greatest possible care. The
police powers of the District government
are, OF course. delegated by Congress. and
the new regulations must not exceed the
police authority already delegated. They
do not anticipate new legislation.
One regulation to which Gen. Johnston
| admits he expects strong opposition re-
| Ouires that vehicles, upon overtaking
street cans which are receiving or dis
charging passengers, must come to a full
| stop. This regulation. which Gen. John
ston has adopted. on the recommendation
of Mai. Sylvester, is intended to do away
with a source of constant danger to peo-
pie boarding and alighting from street
CARS Gen. Johnston is strongly in favor
of this, although Mr.. Enos report does
not recommend such a course.
Two regulations will be recommended
to prevent collisions between vehicles,
particularly collisions resulting from We
| hicles leaving a stationary position at
the curb turning suddenly around in the
street without regard to passing convey
ances. One regulation will require that
before turning, the vehicle which has
been stationary must go forward at least
| twice, its length. The second will require
that means be afforded the driver or OPP
orator OF every vehicle to see behind him
| and on either side. This last rule would
| require that in cases of hoods and cover
ings to meet inclement weather condi-
tons small openings be cut in the back
and sides, so that a driver or operator de-
string to turn his vehicle may be able
first to ascertain what is behind him and
on either side.
May Revoke Licenses.
Placing a severe Interpretation Upon the
law which authorizes the revocation of
Licenses of operators when such operators
are considered a menace to public safety,
Gen. Johnston will recommend that any
serious infraction OF the regulations by
the operator of a mOtor-propelled vehicle
tie considered cause for the revocation OF
his license. This he will apply in cases
OF exceeding the speed limit in the city
and in similar infractions.
THE driver who operates his vehicle at
an illegal rate of speed is as much a
menace to public safety as the man who
does not know how properly to drive his
car" said Gen. Johnston yesterday Il
shall try to employ the power Of revoca-
ton rigidly, regardless of whom II
strikes. II II hits some Of my best
friends. it will make no difference"
"A regulation requiring that every We
hicle concerned in collision shall come
to a full stop. regardless Of how unim
portant the collision may seem, will be
as rigidly enforced as the speed limit
regulation. Violations OF this regula-
ton will he prosecuted under the sever
est possible construction OF the law, re-
CARELESS of the extent Of the damage
done in the accident" This. Gen. John
ston feels. is the only available means
for dealing with such incidents as re-
suited in the killing of Charles Satter-
field at Fifteenth Street and Pennsylva-
MIA Avenue Southeast Friday night.
Must Educate Public.
While the fixing of an efficient set of
police regulations is essential in any
movement to better traffic conditions,
Gen. Johnston agrees with other authori
ties that the education of the public to
the rules and the cooperation of the pub
lie in their enforcement, are no less es-
sential to its ultimate success. This has
been the course pursued in other cities
and in Washington the campaign Of edu-
cation will be carried on vigorously.
through the medium of convenient pock
ct folders and. signs and posters contain
ing a concise digest of the regulations
for the guidance of operators and pedes-
TRANS alike.
two things are essential In any move
ment to better traffic conditions" said
Gen Johnston. First We must have
a comprehensive set Of regulations and,
second, We must make 1t possible for
the public pedestrians and drivers, to-
learn the regulations. Moreover. in the
administration of the regulations we
must have the cooperation of the public.
This is particularly easy in Washington,
where every automobile and business
vehicle and public carriage has number.
1t is the duty of every citizen who wit
nesses an infraction of a traffic regula-
ton to report it at once to the police
department or to any officer who may be
at hand but who failed to witness the
infraction. Then, further, citizens should
be willing to appear in court against
violators Of the regulations, a duty many
are extremely unwilling to perform.
I'VE should have a large number of
convenient pocket folders containing
short but comprehensive digests of the
regulations. These should be available
to every one, and officers of the police
force always should have a number with
them. When an officer witnesses a tech
meal infraction of a traffic regulation,
and which appears to be the result of
ignorance, he should be able to hold up
the culprit hand him copy Of the regu-
lations and point out to him wherein he
has violated them.
Many who are loudest in declaimIng
the need of new regulations are surprise
ingly ignorant of the regulations now in
force. A more general knowledge Of
these regulations would help tremen-
dously."