Evening star., 1918-04-17
STREET ACCIDENTS
BLAMED ON INJURED
Pedestrians Crossing Thor
oughfares DiagonaIIy Take
Unnecessary Risks.
RESENT POLICE WARNING

| One person dead and several others
seriously hurt by motor vehicles dur
ing the last few days resulted from
failure of the victims to follow the ad-
vice of Maj. Raymond W. Pullman, su-
perintendent of police. that pedestrians
cross the streets at intersections.
| At street crossings they are advised
to walk at right angles and not diago-
nally. Because of the trouble the po-
lice have experienced in an effort to
educate pedestrians in the matter OF
| conservation of life Maj. Pullman has
| decided to take action which will COM
pei compliance with what has hereto
fore been merely suggestion.
The superintendent of police is at
loss to understand why pedestrians are
willing to take risks to save a. second
! in crossing a street. He also fails to
appreciate why SO many of them object
to police warning them of the danger.
A lengthy report, bearing on the sub
| ject, is in the hands of the Commls-
sioners, but just what recommendations
| IL contains Maj. Pullman would not
state.
streets are primarily intended for
vehicles and street cars" is a provision
| of the traffic laws, but drivers must
| exercise all possible care not to injure
pedestrians"
Lieut.. Albert J. HeadIey. head of the
traffic squad. says the foregoing pro
portant one. and is made more Inn
| portant when taken in connection with
the statement that pedestrians have the
right of way at street crossings.
The fact that the law gives them
| the right of way at street crossings,
meaning, of course. walking at right
angles and not diagonally," SAID the
traffic lieutenant. should pc sumclens
! notice to pedestrians that they should
cross at intersections and not attempt
| to cross between intersections"
Warning Is Police Duty.
Not only are the traffic policemen
charged with the duty of warning
pedestrians against crossing streets
those suggested, said Maj. Pullman, but
| it is the policy. of the department 70
lhaye every member of the force perform
such duty. He said he was sorry to
say that some pedestrians do not take
the suggestion kindly. but rebuff the
policemen.
There are many persons who seem to
think the middle Of a block is the proper
place to cross. Lieut.. Headiey stated.
and such persons will argue the question
when a policeman endeavors to give
them proper advice. IF pedestrians are
going to cross streets at any place they
desire the inevitable . result rs IS gong gong TO
Maj. Pullman said that Pennsylvania
avenue and 18th street and New York
avenue and 14th street are two OF the
most dangerous crossings, and because
they are danger spots. he added. warn
ing signs for the protection OF passen-
gers have been placed on the stands
used by trafic policemen. In spite of
the warnings in big letters, said the
traffic lieutenant, only few days ago
woman who did not heed the warning
was seriously hurt.
''She walked diagonally across the
street. he said.
Police officials hope the Commission
ers will adopt a regulation that will
cure the evil.
Car Seekers Take Risks.
It is pointed out that many pedes-
trians exhibit an amount of thought
lessness when hurrying to reach street
cars. At Pennsylvania avenue and 18th
of the Mount Vernon and Alexandra
line it is stated by the police. hun
dreds Of patrons of that car line cross
Pennsylvania avenue diagonaIy. A num-
past years. they state. and scarcely a
day passes that many narrow escapes
from injury are not witnessed.
Complaint also is made of speeding
motor trucKS. SuCn nedVy VeNlCleS ara
more numerous than ever, policemen
say. and many pedestrians relate in
stances of narrow escapes from them.
1t Is stated that many drivers of such
trucks seem to ignore speed laws. and
also give little thought to the law
which provides a penalty for cutting
corners and turning corners at rate
of speed in excess of that fixed by the
traffic regulations Owners of motor
trucks have conferred with members of
the police traffic squad in an effort to have
their employees comply with the law,
and some owners 1t is stated, have
discharged employees who violated the
regulations.
gagged in by drivers of some of the
trucks" remarked a pedestrian who
narrowly escaped being run down by
one of them several days ago. "and
unless something is done to stop it I
fear many persons are doomed to be
injured
HARVEY GIVEN A CAPTAIN;