Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-16
TRAFFIC WISDOM
PUT IN P|THY FORM
Milton D. Smith Cautions
Pedestrians, Drivers and
Auto Owners.
WATCH LICENSE TAG!

feurs' Association and traHc Or
fcer connected with the third police
precinct, who has given much study
to traffic problems here and in other
cities. and who has contributed
short, pithy article to the 1913 year
Book Safety First Manual of the
Professional Chauffeurs' Association,
favors The Sunday Star with extracts
from that article, which are here re-
produced.
1t is hoped that operators of auto
mobiles and the people generally VINO,
as pedestrians. have to cross the
streets from time to time. Will see
these admonitions of professionai
and experienced traffic officer and
profit thereby. Traffic officer smith s
contribution follows;
Pedestrians.
Stop: Losk. Listen. before step
ping out into the roadway. RemeHh-
Der streets are primarily intended
for use of vehicles. and when you
must cross. do so at a street crossing
Drivers.
Safety first, Means safe-not sorry.
Do not take a chance when you see
a. little child on the curb or at
crossing. He can make up his nina
to Cross or jump out in front OF you
quicker than you can stop. Caution Is
needed--too many Children are sac
rificed to careIessness on the part OF
drivers in this respect A child is not
supposed to have the Intelligence OF
a grown person handling a vehicle.
You, Mr.. Auto Owner-Driver.
Do you know the conditions of the
brakes on your car? Do you ever stop
to think how much may depend upon
you being able to stop-and stop
quick? II your brakes are not in good
| working condition you should have
I believe it should be criminal negli-
gence" for a person to drive a car
with poor brakes.
| In wet weather-rainy--ehai on
your rear wheels should be used; in
snow and on icy streets, chains on
four wheels are not any too safe. A
set of chains are cheaper than new
wheels-or the doctor Don't wait until
you have an accident-prepare now.
Ladies driving their own cars should
lremember-do not hide behind your
sex to make excuses for violating the
law. You are the same as man driv-
| ing and should know what to do at
crossings, where to park your cars and
for how long you are permoitted 10
leave it.
Women operating cars are more
liable to get excited in contested
places, or in the business districts. If
you are not sure what to do stop. go
slow. Unless, you are fully, capable Of
handling a car don't drive in the
crowded districts. Remember. safety
first is not catch phrase-it's the
I best insurance policy you can have.
The traffic policemen do not work
for fun, nor does he get any commits
sion on his arrests. So there Ia no par
ticulAr glory init for him to arrest
you, but laws are made to-, be re-
spected and if<3ou break them do not
blame the man who is paid 70 do his
Placing of License Tags.
An Important amendment in the
police regulations applying to auto
mobiles, which goes into effect to-
morrow monday provides that the
District license tag shall be, placed
front and back of the machine in
7 the most conspicuous place and above
and apart from, not overlapped by.
any other state license tag: that the
District of Columbia license tag shall
be placed on the rear of the auto
mobile next to the light: that the
light SHdAl NC O1 SdHiSiCAlk po" Ci
when lighted atenigiat that the num-
bers on the District of Columbia tag
can be plainly seen forty feet away.
/ from the car: that no machine oper-
ated in the District shall carry more
than three license tags, two other
state tags in addition to the District
Of Columbia tag; that the District of
Columbia tag shall not be INSTRUCTED
from plain view by the bumper of the
car or an extra tire carried on the.
rear of the auto and that there shall
be no Obstruction preventing the tag,
without effort The regulation further
provides that the District of Column
bia license tag shall be kept clean
Of mud and other dirt. that 1t shall
net be Lent or damaged, the numerals
of the license 50 broken that the.
identity of the car cannot be quickly
and certainly determined.
Traffic Accidents Reported.
Failing to stop after an accident
was the charge lodged against James
Johnson, nineteen years old. 1915 Sth
street, who was arrested last night by
police of the third precinct 1t is
charged that while driving his en-
ployer's machine at 21st and L streets
he knocked down Bryan Waters. col
ored, eight years old, 1854 21st street.
and slightly hurt him.. The boy was
taken to Emergency Hospital and
Johnson deposited collateral for his
appearance in Police Court.
Marvin Wesley, AHA Fessenden
street, early last evening made a
quick turn Of his automobile near the
west end of the bridge over Rock
creek at Calvert street to prevent a
collision with another automobile. A
southbound automobile driven by Ray
P. Dunning, PLAT Macomb street. came
along at that time and collided with
Westieys car. Both machines were
damaged.
A collision between the automobiles
Of J. w. Graham, 1924 Morrison street.
and Louis r. Palmer. Ala New York
avenue, occurred yesterday afternoon
at 18th and c streets. Slight damage
to both automobiles resulted.