Evening star., 1920-11-24

| A regulation making it unlawful
for pedestrians to cross streets that
are traffic thoroughfares. except at
the intersections, was advocated by
the District branch of the American
Automobile Association at a hearing
in the District building today.
The hearing is being held by the
committee appointed by the Commits
sioners to revise the traffic regu-
lations in an effort to check the wave
of accidents.
| Conrad H. Syme recalled that .
number of years ago the Commits
| it illegal for pedestrians to cross any
street in the District except at the
corners, which was not upheld by the
courts.
Police to Determine Areas.
The attorney said he agreed with
the court that tho regulation was un-
reasonable He asserted, however.
! that he is satisfied such q regulation
could be enforced now II applied only
(, to the congested downtown section.
! ana to such other streets In the city
| that are regarded az dangerous by the
timer the proposed regulation the
t6ffce department would determine the
areas in which the regulation would
! apply.
validity Of such regulation depends
! largely on the conditions prevailing
! at the time of its enactment. When
| the original tay-waiking regulation
was enacted. he said. there were not
| nearly as many automobiles or people
| in Washington as there are today, and
the traffic situation was. CONSEQUENT
! ly. not SO serious as 1t is today. Mr.
Syme formerly was corporation coun-
sci Of the District. He He appearsd tooay
The local branch of the A. A. A.
also suggested to the committee that
| the police be directed to keep record
in accident cases Of whether the pc
destrian WIS struck by the vehicle
; while crossing in the middle of
block or at the intersection.
Would Amend Age Limit.
Mr.. Syme also recommended that
| the traffic regulations be amended 80
as to fix sixteen years as the age limit
i for the issuance Of permits for the
| operation of motor cycles. At pres
ent motor cycles are exempt from the
sixteen-year limit
As to the examination which should
be required of applicants for permits
to operate motor vehicles. the local
branch of the. A. A. A. made the fol-
lowing recommendations 10 DC aoQed
to the regulations:
1.-The applicant shall be required
to undergo an examination to deter
mine his ability to operate motor
vehicle before an operators permit
is issued to him. This examination
shall include an actual road test or
demonstration of the qualifications OF
the person applying for the license.
I'VE wish to emphasize the inn
portance of the following paragraph
~fGff I'M
regulation. cline three from the bot
tom of page 33.)
Urge Walking to the Left.
Provided that no permit shall be
issued to operate any of the above
mentioned vehicles to any person
whose physical defects, such as blind
ness. deafness, or other defects. would
make the operation of a motor vehicle
by such a person a menace 10 puoile
safety
! 1--WE believe that this provision
should be strictly adhered to in the
future"
/ Another recommendation was that
on suburban roads where there is
no sidewalk pedestrians should keep
10 the left hand side of the direction
in which they are walking. By fol-
lowing this regulation, the A. A. A
pointed out, the walker would bf
facing oncoming traf1c.r
Says COnErcsA May Act.
william r. Emo. student of traffic
problems. reminded the COMMITTEES
that Congress is likely to take action
on traffic legislation for the District
at the forthcoming session and urged
that no definite action be taken by
interested organizations in the mean.
time inasmuch as 1t might complicats =
the issues and prejudice the outcome
w. Pearce Rayner appeared az
spokesman for the Board of Trade ans
the Washington Automotive Trade
Association. He submitted a printeS
report adopted by the Board of Trade
covering all phases OF the traffic situa.
ton and recommending remedies ir
each case.
Mr.. Rayner added u recommends. !
tion that the photograDns of ali hired
chaffeurs OF private cars. as well ~
public machines. can be attached &c
their operating permits.
Another important suggestion he
made was that cross walks for pedes.
TRANS be marked OF by the police de.
partment between as well as at street
intersections.
hramer Tells cf WorK.
stephen e. Kramer. assistant super.
intendent of schools. told the commit &
tee the school authorities are now
eudeavoring to reduce accidents &c
children by instructing all publN
school pupils in the dangers OF streei
play.
hcing warned especially aSains,
a. rtA Aaa hn n ~