Evening star., 1920-02-05
EDUCATING D. c.
IN TRAFFIC RULES,
|SNEED, SAYSEN0
Expert Heard by Committee
Drafting Reckless
Driver Bill.

OIIVSI 0tus
Education of the people of Wash
ington in the traffic regulations is
paramount in any movement to do
away with accidents and fatalities in
the streets. w. P. Emo. author of the
traffic regulations in New York and
Paris. and recognized as an expert on
the subject. today told the Senate
District subcommittee engaged in
drafting a bill to prevent reckless
driving in Washington.
Mr.. Emo presented to the commit
tee copies of the traffic regulations
prepared by the highway transport
Defense, of which he is chairman.
and which are intended as a standard
for traffic regulations in cities
throughout the country. He said that
the Council of National Defense hopes
to have these regulations adopted in
Washington. the capital Of the nation.
where they can be observed as model
for other cities.
First Effort to Standardixe.
This is the first effort to stand
ardize traffic regulations throughout
the couhtry." Mr.. Emo said. Wash
ington should be the best place to
start it. For one reason. 1t is easier
to handle trafic here than In any
other large city.
tions are adopted and campaign
of education undertaken it will be
possible to cut the accidents here
so per cent in six weeks. and in SIX
months. 75 per cent. The rate OF
accidents in New York per 1000 pop
ulation is just one-half Of what 1T is
in Washington. 1t should be Just
the other Way round.
The main thing is to get into the
minds Of the people a knowledge OF
the traffic regulations. Not one Of
fender against the regulations In 1000
is an intentional offender. But 1 doubt
If per cent OF the people here have
ever seen the traffic regulations"
Folder Needed for Public.
printed by the District government
contain much detail and SO many
pages that few persons would read
them through. He advocated four
page folder containing the essential
regulations.
Mr.. Emo said that the committee of
which he is chairman has adopted
keep eight feet away from a street
car which stops at a crossing. He
said that the fifteen-foot rule in force
here Is unreasonable and for that rea-
SON is not observed.
He also opposed the right Of way
rule by which the driver on the right
is given the right of way at street
He said it is dangerous
and is responsible for many accidents.
He urged that in the regulations per-
sons be directed to slow down at all
crossings and take care. In New
York. he said, the north and south
traffic Is given the right of way, and
T. t%r<,
Of the great congestion.
No speed regulation has yet been
included in the regulations of the
Council of National Defense, Mr.. Emo
said, because of the wide difference Of
conditions and rules In the various
cities.
He strongly urged the printing Of at
1ations, their distribution by the
police and in schools in a campaign
of education.
Unopposed to TraMc Court.
IT have no objection to a traffic
court to try traffic cases." said Mr..
Emo, except the expense Of its estab
lishment. It might be as well to wait
before establishing it until cam
paign Of education has been tried. and
regulations are cut down, as / say
they will be. it may not be necessary
to establish such . court. The New
York traffic court Is necessity, and
was largely in conformity with a sug-
gestion of mine"
Mr.. Emo said that drivers Of auto
mobiles should be given copies Of the
examinations on them and to keep
them always with them.
Maj. r. w. Pullman, superintendent
Of police. told the committee that much
has been done by the polse depart
ment to educate the people as to traf-
tions have been printed by the thou
sands, he said. and distributed. Sun
rise" meetings at garages have been
conducted so as 70 instruct chauffeurs,
and the schools have been entered.
He disagreed with Mr.. Emo as to the
and also declared himself. in favor of
the right-of-way rule now in force.
Favors Rotary System.
Mr. Emo told the committee that if
the rotary system could be adopted at
street crossings, so that drivers
would have to follow a circle, as they
did att16th and X streets here, acct
dents would be lessened and traffic
would move speedily. He said that
the day after the circle was taken
from 18th and K streets Senator Hale,
whose house is there, told him he had
seen three accidents at the crossing.
On inquiry. Mr.. Emo said. the District
Commissioners informed him that the
circle was removed because the wives
Of congressman could not drive their
cars around it,"
w. T.. Peabody. president of the
Safety First Association of Washing
ton. told the committee that he was
in favor Of a traffic court and a strict
enforcement of the traffic regulations.
He said that 1t would be well, also,
to educate the pedestrians so that
they would cross the streets only at
street crossings.
In advocating a trafflc court. Mr..
Peabody said that some 10000 viola
tions OF the traffic regulations occur
in year, and that it is impossible
to have even q large part of these
heard in court. Another Judge is nec-
essary, he said. He told the commit
tee that accidents in the streets here
are increasing, and something should
be done to stop them.
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