The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-07-21
THE Jay WALKERS,n -

| Inc Tribune has had something to
say recently in regard to the handling
Of automobiles in the public streets,
and the peril to the general public from
the reckless, careless. and inexperi.
enced handling Of these machines, to
the peril Of pedestrians who also use
the public streets.
1t Is no more than fair, therefore,
that we should accede to the request Of
a friendly correspondent in this city,
who asks US to reprint from late issue
of Golfers An article on "Jay Walk
ersD
Our correspondent Is Of the opinion
that ''if there is any city in this coun.
try that needs more educating in the
line mentioned in this editorial from
Golfers, / cannot imagine where it Is. -
BE continues. "If pedestrians would
only give this matter their serious at
tention, the drivers Of horses and autos
would not have near as many accidents
charged against them Tho Collier
editorial is as follows:
In the science OF handling street traffic
tho latest development ia education for
the careless pedestrian, The LAY walk
same sort Of sanity and good manners
as the Jay driver was forced 20 ac-
quire. Not for esthetic or sentimental
reasons. but because the pedestrians
carelessness. as has been pointed out IN
recent reports from the National High
ways Protective Society. !s an lmpor-
tant-and reduclble-factor in Keeping the
street traffic death and injury rate so
ma lluglt high The nF
on this matter has been reflected IN
Kansas city in new ordinance which
makes the person who lodges past q
crossing patrolman. S hand or tries 70
'cut corners" n lawbreaker. On tho
novel charge OF being Lay walkers"
several men have been arraigued in KAN
ses City's municipal courts. On the face
or II; such regulation appears TO be
cranky" but Il VIII bear scrutiny bet
ter than two out OF three products in
this years law crops. F1shting Bob
bridge Of the Iowa in a battle to the
hazards Of crossing Broad way, seems
moro than an epigrammatc half truth
when the record Of traffic accidents In
Twenty-Five days OF lively fighting around
Santiago IN 1898 killed 243 officers and
men and wounded l4f5. Hont- honklng
times % peace in New York last wear
killed 423 and injured 200f II careless
has made the annoyances and
dangers of city streets much greater
tAAu NAfg uffl ne. any regulation cffcC-
tive In reducing traffic perils deserves 10
De taken seriously.
To which il is only necessary to reply
that pedestrians have Just as mucn
right on the public streets as horse-vehi.
cles or automobiles. Pedestrians have
4 right 70 cross the street, and no one
has any claim upon them that they mus;
20 fifteen or twenty rods north or
south 70 get TO a street crossing. then
return on the other side OF the street
fifteen or twenty rods back again. ou. |
positc from where they started, in place |
OF crossing the street direct and avoid |
ing the thirty or forty rods OF extra |
The idea that the streets arc !
from the sidewalks and |
cross walks, and are the distinct and /
exclusive property FOR the use Of horse. |
vehicles and automobiles, is a curious
fnliaey- The pedestrian has lust A.
much right in the streets aud highway,
as vehicles have. and no rider or driver
Of vehicle has the right 70 demand
that . pedestrian shall, in the country.