Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-10
|SEVENTY-ONE FATAL TRAFFIC
ACCIDENTS IN D. C.. IN YEAR
Maj. Gessford Starts Campaign for Pro-
lection Of Pedestrians on All
Street Crossings.

Maj. Ge.ssIord. superintendent of po-
lice, is giving much thought TO the
question of safeguarding pedestrians
on the streets, in the matter of pre-
venting them from being run down
by automobiles The annual report of
the superinte Mlent. which will be
submitted to tine Commissioners in a
few days. will Salow a total of sew
enty-one traffic Il. talities during the
past fiscal year. a decrease OF five
compared with the preceding year. 1t
is the intention of The police chief to
further reduce the number if pos
sible. Forty traffic fatalities have oc-
CURED since January /.
Maj. Gessford thiIlA $ pedestrians
should be extremely careful crossing
at street intersectioxh'. especially
where traffic policemen are stationed
Because of lack of men. Ne stated to
a Star reporter. the crossings in this
city cannot be protected as well as
in New York where five men are sta
toned. one in the middle OF the street
and one on each corner.
Almost as many men as Ne nave
on duty in some of the pracincts,
the superintendent remarked.
In recent communication received
by the superintendent of police the
writer took occasion to indulge in
criticism of members of the police
force in the matter of safeguarding
pedestrians. He wrote:
Makes Plea for Tedestrians
Being on the STREETS great deal
and observing matters rather closely.
l feel that l am right in dra wing
your attention to the fact that the
trafhc regulation which L understand
now obtains, giving the pedestrian
the right of way at street crossings.
provided they cross at right angles.
is not being enforced by your officers.
and 1T seems to me rather ridiculous
to post warnings in conspicuous places
showing pedestrians the proper
method of crossing streets only 10
have them run down by drivers of
cars and trucks when they attempt
to follow these we'll meaning placards.
for it is an absolute fact, based on
my careful observation, that officers
completely ignore this regulation.
Another sight which would be
ridiculous did it not involve the life
of pedestrians is to see your traffic
officers on duty at the various cross
lngs hold up line of traffic in a given
and then, when pedestrians
attempt to take advantage of this
halt to cross, wave the halted lines
forward on top of the crossing throng.
During this operation the officer never
seems to think that his duties might
involve protection to the crossing pc
destrian as well as to move street
traffic. I have seen this performance
iHdHy LILIES TeCeItlS WI the
officer was engaged in deep CONVEX
sation with some casual friend who
happened along"
Mai. GexsfOrd Stirs Up Officers.
Mai Gessford. always glad to re-
ceive suggestions which will benefit
his department or the public, read the
letter carefully and concluded to call
the attention of members of his traf-
fc squad to the necessity for paying
more attention to pedestrians. Last
night he prepared a message to be
read to members of the force this
morning. 1t reads:
THE department is from time to
time subjected TO severe criticism be- 4
cause of the apparent disregard by it's
members, especially street railway
crossing officers, of the rights of pc
destrians.
Pedestrians at regular street cross
ings, crossing at right angles. have
crossing officers should do everything
in reason to provide against any in
of this rule by vehicle
drivers. especially when pedestrians
are moving across in accordance with
the officers directions to traffic. and
the semaphore should not be changed
until the cross walk is reasonably
clear of pedestrian traffic.
Vehicles approaching a crossing
and stopping to permit traffic to cross
their front are required to stop back