Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-11

file would certainly seem to have JUST
the opposite result.
to be the altogether too frequent COL
lision. A very large percentage OF
these cases are the result OF TWO
things-frst the failure to observe the
those vehicles travelling north and
south. and. second. failure to under
stand what is meant by right OF way
To overcome collisions from the nrst
cause every driver should be alert. |
and never proceed until he can see
just what is coming across his path. II
there is an obstruction to his vision.
slow down until you can see Don't
get the impression that because you
have right of way you are under no
obligations to use every precaution
you are required to use II you had NOT
the right of way. Many times there are
out Of your way. and sometimes there
are drivers either ignorant or so care
less as to never give way II they can
possibly avoid 1t.
Defines the Right Of Way.
Right of way simply means that II two
vehicles arrive at the same point at ap-
proximately the same time, the one haV-
ing the right of way shall proceed ana
the other shall slow up or stop. The rule
Is established so as to avoid CONFUSION,
and lodging back and forth, which usu-
ally results in a collision. Another pro-
life cause of collision is the habit OF
driving in the rain with the windshield
up. On several occasions the court mas
remarked that this is a most dangerous
practice and one to be avoided. Convic-
lions are almost sure to follow where tne
proof establishes the fact that the wino-
shield was up at the time 1t was ram
ing
Continuing his address, Mr.. Duvall said
that during the year ended December
81, 1913. there were thirteen fatal acci-
dents caused by or laid to automobiles ,
I'm nearly all Of the instances reie.reo
to, the driver having been discharged as
blameless. it follows that the person
killed was the victim Of his or her own
carelessness. Notwithstanding our poNCe
regulation to the contrary. persons VIII
cross the streets where most CONVENIENT
| nothing would induce them to walk to the
corner and cross. a place where their SAFE
| ty is practically assured: nothing will pre-
| vent them from suddenly and unexpectedly
dashing madly from dark sidewalks to
catch a car without observing vehicles
| coming their way; nothing will prevent
many from using the roadways as side
walks; nothing will prevent them from
congregating at transfer points and Inn
| peding traffic: and. it seems, notwith-
| standing the constant warnings of pub
lished accidents. that nothing will prevent
| them from continually and in many in
stances recklessly exposing themselves to
| danger.
| what, then, is the answer? The driver
of a vehicle has right to expect people
| TO cross at the crossings an not at other
| points; he is not expected to anticipate
that a pedestrian is going to suddenly
| jump from the sidewalk and run for a
| car nor is he expected to anticipate that
| behind every car or automobile or other
| obstruction in the street there turks q
person ready to spring out into his path
appeals to Pedestrians.
THE answer is that the pedestrians
themselves must lend aid to the drivers
if they are to be protected. II. for an!
reason, pedestrians cannot by law b'
forced to cross only at street crossings
or prevented from walking in the streets
(many times reading papers, or II the!
| cannot be prevented from conSregatine
at transfer points and interfering witt
traffic. then they should thoroughly un
! derstand that in point of law they de
these things at their own personal risk
Editorials in the local newspapers woulo
have good effect on the public IL the,
| endeavored to impress upon the mind o.
the pedestrian the necessity of observing
the safe and sane rule of crossing "a
regular crossings. ETC.. and the further
fact that the roadways were made fol
| vehicles.
I'm other words, it is the Washington
pedestrian who needs education NOR
/ than the driver. for the latter is bount
by ironclad regulations rigidly enforced
while the former, though coming unde
certain regulations, disregards them a
will.
Just as long as children are permitte,
to play in the roadways. pedestrian
| walk in the roadways. read papers AM
books while crossing the same. suddenl,
dart from sidewalks to roadways. stel
from behind distractions into roadways
or do the hundred and one things that ;
careful person would not do. just 81
long will they be killed or MANNED b.
vehicles.
Education Necessary.
These things cannot be corrected b.