Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-30
Traffic Rules and Casualties.

While it may be desirable to simplify
and in some respects to change the
traffic regulations in this District, the
evil of street killings is not attributable
to the present state of the rules or TO
any failure on the part of the vehicle
managers to understand them. Com
PARSONS have been made between this
city and London, greatly to the advan-
tage of the British metropolis in point OF
street safety, but the relative immunity
of Londoners from danger in the streets
is not due to the specific character OF
the London traffic rules 1t is due to the
fact that those rules are enforced. or. to
state the case more exactly, that they
are respected and observed. The aver
age street user in London not only
knows the law but obeys it, There is no
taking of chances there here. 1t Is
not as a rule regarded the proper
thing to break the law if there Is no
policeman in sight. The rule is respected
at all time and in all places. not for fear
of penalties, but becausc ii is general
habit of the people 10 observe reguia-
lions. On the other hand the contrary
spirit prevails as a rule here, and the
result is a total of casualties in the
streets that is a reproach to the Ameri-
can people.
Simplification of the traffic rules should
not lessen the responsibility resting upon
those who use the streets with heavy.
dangerous vehicles. Nor should 1t de-
prive pedestrians of the right TO cross the
streets in security at certain designated
places No rule can ever be adopted and
enforced in this city with the consent or
the people that puts the pedestrian on
his own risk when he crosses the street
at an intersection. 1t must always be
remembered that there are very many
more pedestrians than motorists, and
they must be given an opportunity to
make progress in safety regardless of
the amount of money invested in motor
cars, chiefly for purposes of pleasure
and luxurious speed.
1t is possible for motor cars to be so
managed that at crossings they are under
perfect control involving no peril to
those afoot. The cars that are thus man.
aged do not figure in many accidents
When this subject was under discussion
q few years ago it was urged on behalf
Of the motor car that it could be given
a certain latitude of speed on account of
the ease of it's manipulation. Cases were
cited to show that cars under certain
speeds could be brought to a complete
halt in very short distances. Obviously
the margin which this sense of control
gives to motor managers has been cut
down too low, else there would not have
been in the eleven months of the current
calendar year sixty-five accidents in the
city of Washington. twelve of them fatal,
for which no one has ever been held &C
countable.
Let the rules be amended if the author
tiles deem proper. in the interest of sim
plicity and fuller understanding, but let
them be enforced strictly with reference
to the right Of the pedestrian to cross
the streets safely at intersections. And
when an accident occurs at such cross
Ing whether 1t results fatally or not. the
courts should act to express in terms
of some sort of punishment the laws
condemnation of culpable carelessness.