The Washington times., 1917-09-22
Street Accidents
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
Of Pedestrians Auto Drivers and Police Needed to Co
serve Human Ife-Abnormal Conditions Prevail.

Announcement by William F. Peabody, president of the
Safety First Association of the District of Columbia of his
intention to begin safeyfrst movement throughout the
city in the near future good news Accidents have been
happening the streets of Washng on in such amazing
numbers of late that campaign comes none too
soon
The reasons do not involve negligence the part of the
District authorities Major Pulmans traffic squad has been
doing truly efficient work Pedestrians well drivers of
vehicles will testify this But street traffic is growing to
unprecedented proportions More automobiles and peo
pie the streets of Washington today than at any time
the history of the city, with the exception of festive
sions What with the aboinabe dsservice that the Wash
ngon Railway and Electric Company gives the thousands of
people who compelled to its lines and the augmented
population of Washington well the increasing number
OF motor trucks and vehicles used by the Government
adays travel the streets of Washington is
difficult problem to handle than it year ago. We
witnessing remarkable expansion of the city itself
All municipalities have discovered that there ways
to reduce minimum the number of accidents The safety
first movement has been this country 1t has
prolonged the lives of thousands of people.
Everybody knows that In the city of Washington today
there is good deal of reckless driving by inexperienced
motorists that of the motormen not trained
fully enough to handle their safely that street crossings
congesed and that the squad of traffic and bicycle
much small for the needs of the city These things can
be corrected by the District by insisting that
those who issue operators licenses exercise extreme caution
assuring themselves that applicants really know how to
drives by increasing the number. of traffic guards and by
enforcing traffic regulations sharply in the business section
of the city, both as to street cars and autos
The public must be taught cooperation with the police
authorities Education is the fundamental principle of the
safey-frst movement Pedestrians who reminded by
signs and other devices of the dangers of crossing thorough
fares in the middle of block apt to forget that this
frequent of accidents collisions because as the
police records will show it is always the pedestrian him.
self who is injured The driver who attempt to avoid
hurting person crossing the street suddenly his
machine is likely to collide with another auto coming
opposite direction or turning corner
The Times has received several letters the subject Of
street accidents Says William H. Davis for instance, who
lives on Patterson street, Chevy Chase:
''Anoher serious automobile accident Saturday night
Connecticut gomar street injured four
the tracks these poles must remain is it not possible
safety measure at least, to paint them whitei''
The suggestion is good one and ought to commend
itself the Safety First Association Trolley poles in other
parts of the city ought to be painted wholly white par
tally white that at night especially motorists
them These poles the Badensurg road for stretch Of
mile within the District limits have been especially danger
GUS account of inadequate street lighting.
On the whole, the Safety First Association will find many
things that be corrected in the interest of the public The
is timely 1t deserves the cooperation of all the
people for it is measure to conserve human life