The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-09
MAY STOP BETWEEN
BLOCK CROSSINGS
Wood, seeks New Safety Street
Law to Decrease AutOmO-
bile accidents.
TO EDUCATE OFFENDERS

ANN Ines just as much right to cross
,New Nprh street, Police Commissioner
Woods believes, as the minstrel mans
shickc. has to cross the road. but. SO
,ho Commit sioncr said yesterday, unless
New York learns the danger OF crossing
streets lu the middle of a block, in
stead ~ at crossings, the police may
have TO take steps to stop the practice.
Commissioner Woods has Just writ
ten a letter to Corporation Counsel
hardy ASKING whether or not the police
nave a yIEht to arrest those who do
va, usg tHc crossings to get on the other
,de /. HIS j. tier the Commissioner
instances 3-g cases where injuries were
caused because those who were struck
1y vehicles crossed In th. middle OF
block. together with sixty-eight injured
by running in front OF vehicles or into
hem ard Ntrty-cight struck because
.,ev were standing. walking or even
sitting 90 the street or on curbs.
"rlp Police department does not
oart tu arrest any one for crossing the
street hai, way uown the block II such
,N,-cu measures a be avoided" Com
u.ssIi g Woods said yesterday, but
- invest. lions show that In these mid
block accidents the pedestrian. as a
.ulc. is at fdult-which hoes not mean
"a the wy. that the drivers and chauf-
,eurs are not 10 blame also-svmething
mus. pt o to put "a stop to inid-block
CROSSING.
'L,gi-lati"r. l find. will he necessary
before tie police may arrest "a pedestrian
for crossing streets dtagonally. and
cave. knows We have enough laws
poy-,ob utuy OF them. \ better way
5y far would he to stop middle OF the
,,ogk crossing 10y educating the people
ID, SEQ The dang RS of the habit.
"lf hy publicity and in the schools
ne fact Waa hammered In that New
Works streets are very different to-day
nan they were even a short time aeo,
many accidents might be averted. New
yo,E constantly Is putting up more
bindings and higher ones. which means
more ycuplc. but the streets remain
.t, same And added TO the growing
..ovds are the thousands of automo-
lFes that tn, New York Of a very
rsw years ago did not nav to dodge.
rI,, ,.,rr are the motor trucks, some
4. them mountainous in size, n par
.,ull'ly dangerous because their great
Ne-s' gives them a momentum which
m.k,. il almost impossible for their
IlNtI~ 90 l4AItaA' itth 'NA'AAs VI s''f
no,i'o.
We lave Just asked for the pas
sac OF a city ordinance limiting the
speed ~ trucks. Tn proposed ordinance
% bong fought in certain quarters. but
4: should be PASSED for the general
GOOD. \ motor truck going through
Manhattan streets at ten miles an hour
= quite rs danl ernus as a touring car
hitting Il uu at twenty-five miles AT
hou'.
"The Police Department has to look
out for both sides--we have the regu-
latou Of the vehicular traffic on our
lands. "a. well as the safeguarding
II pedestrians. The policeman tries &c
t5ip IN, pedestrian by holding him back
9 % crossing. The chauffeur sees the
'rog being held back and starts his
mi. l.us. Bul while the policeman Is
Pr. .- back TIE crowd and the chaut-
snr STARTS bis ear the PEDESTRIAN
flrJe "f them at ~l"ast-says, in effect,
H., u,l..e with the cop. | have 4
.-.t., cross the street He does sc
.H. 80 - gets hit.
m whole problem resolves itselI
.p iJ..tIlg the people 10y publicity
a-H o.. tho schools. 80 that they vii
rt.ze the dancers of crossing the
ry,', iu careless. ~haphazard man~er
., i.r citizens would strictly oh
..rlr 'r practice of go!ng from one
g.r, tu TN, opposite ouc only at thu
.rs'.r s.r-,, crossings the result woulc
ie that IL. drivers would become mors
A'e'u', l.r ir'u the drivers woulC
be especially yigilAnt at the only point
"g,r tu,N were likely to meet up Will
isdosyr.uIrs