The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-12-30
Council Committee Put o. X. On
Chief Provisions of Police Com :
missioner's New Traffic
Ordinance
LITTLEFIELD DEMANDS
SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS
Bays They're "Kept Jumping
For Lives" at Crossings I'm
der Present System

Police Commissioner Gillespie's re-
vised traffic ordinance, which is In
tended to furnish needed protection TO
pedestrians and make automobile
travel on the city streets safer. was
reviewed by the council committee on
ordinances, Tuesday morning, and
with the exception OF a few provisions
, over which there was considerable de-
bate. was UNANIMOUSLY indorsed by the
members of the committee.
Section OF the proposed ordinance
Will. the police commissioner thinks,
put a stop to reckless driving. II puts
a further check on automobile driv-
ers. even those who are careful TO OBJ
Nerve the speed limit. IL provides
that one vehicle In overtaking another
must pass on the left side; that vehi-
cles meeting must pass to the right;
tnat no vehicle shall pass to the left
or street car travelling in the same
direction, and that for one vehicle to
pass two others moving In the same
direction constitutes reckless driving,
the driver being subject TO arrest and
a fine or sentence In the Detroit
%AOAoN Va SOlltNllOH. ne new OT0l-
nance also does away with the '.un-
earthly racket" caused by the unnec-
essary use OF "cut-outs" on automo-
biles. provides for dimmed headlights
and for adequate brakes that can be
relied upon in case OF an emergency.
Aid. Sherman Littlefield, chairman
or the committee. caused Sec. 2, giving
the police department the power to
regulate vehicular and pedestrian traf-
nc In the streets. to be held up, be-
cause he declared that the present
method OF the traffic oficers station
ed at downtown intersections does not
insure the safety OF the pedestrian
You get halfway across and then
he motions traffic to move In the op-
poslte direction" said Littlefield. 1.-The
result is that the pedestrian Is Jump
Ing for his life before he reaches the
sidewalk"
= THE best we can do Is to get the
pedestrians halfway across to the
safety zones" stated Commissioner
Gillespie
well, II we are going to give you
power TO regulate pedestrian traffic
you are going to do II right or that
provision Is going to come out of the
ordinance" declared the chairman
~ At his suggestion this section was
held rp for further discussion, Al
torney William @. Bryant, OF the
Wolverine Automobile club and the
ID. A. d. A., who assisted Commits
sioner Gillespie in drafting the tratic
ordinance, explaining that he had a
separate pedestrian ordinance with
out a penalty that he would like to
submit later His pedestrian ordi
rance, II is understood, prevents
pedestrians crossing the main thor
and In other ways gives the police
power to properly safeguard foot
travellers in the crowded shopping
district especially.
Section OF the traffic ordinance
provides for the arrangement OF lights
son automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles
and other vehicles IL stipulates 49,.
all vehicles must carry a rear or tail
light after dark. Aid. Vernon called
attention 10 the fact that the rail-
way companies refuse to allow lighted
lamps in their depots. Aid. -ase also
argued against the rear light for the
truckmen.
."All other cities have rear lights on
horse-drawn vehicles" said Commits
sioner Gillespie. Il will guarantee
you that there will be no objection
from the railway companies on that
score
James c. Gordon. OF the Gordon
Pagel Co.. bakers, stated that his com
. pany, employing over loo trucks and
other vehicles, had had but one rear
end collision in II years. He said
tAhat the poor drivers would be the
goats" IL that section of the ordi-
nance were adopted. AT the commits
sioner's suggestion this section was
held up to give all parties interested
an opportunitS TO be heard.
!. Under section all automobiles
must be provided with a suitable bell
pr horn aud adequate brakes. Ex-
haust whistles, similar to those used
by the police and fire departments are
prohibited. Section 6, covering noise
and smoke from automobiles, Is dras-
tic. IL provides that the "cut-out" con-
nection on all automobiles and trucks
must be removed and so placed that
the driver cannot reach IL from the
seat
1.-THE man or woman who uses
'cut-out on a gasoline car. is suffering
from slight form OF insanity" com
mented the commissioner. at does
40 good and causes great deal OF
annoyance"
In case OF accident or collision the
ordinance says, the driver OF an auto
must stop and give every assistance
possible 10 the injured person or per-
sons. The driver must also give his
or her name. address. and the regis
tered number of the car.
Vehicles travelling on Woodward.
Jefferson, Fort, Grand River, Michi-
gan, John r.. Cass and Gratiot are
given the riRht-of-way over other We
hicles at street intersections. except
at the crossings where traffic is regu.
lated.
A driver under the influence OF
liquor is liable to arrest for reckless
driving.
Sec. 10 provides that vehicular traf-
ic must pass six feet from the run
ming board OF standing street car.
Where the space between the track
sEnd the curb will not allow this, We
hicles must stop six feet behind the
rear step OF the standing car We
hicles passing car that Is taking on
or letting OF passengers must pro
coed at one-half the lawful speed. II
!. will be unlawful for a driver to tres
' pass on a safety zone while the same
Is occupied by pedestrians.
The speed limit Is 10 miles in the