Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-28

reckless manner. Even with the utmost pre-
caution it is difficult for the driver of the auto
mobile 10 avoid hitting a person who does this.
Drivers Of all kinds of vehicles have been
forced to conform to certain strict regulations.
In the first place vehicles are not allowed on
the ridewalks; they must keep on the right sice
ne the street and can only draw up to the curb
on the right side of a street. All vehicles are
campelled to stop at a crossing when a police
man holds up his hand and other traffic is given
the right of way. They are allowed to park
their cars at certain places only for a limited
period of time. All of these things are of COM
paratively recent ruling. Time was. not so very
long ago, when a driver of a vehicle could do
about as he pleased on the street. He drove
where he pleased, stopped where he pleased
ard remained as long as he wanted to. He felt
that his rights were being infringed upon as
the various regulations were imposed upon him.
but he has gradually learned to conform to the
new conditions and all admit that they have
greatly improved the situation.
In the same way, the pedestrian ought to be
compelled to submit to definite regulations. The
danger of cutting diagonally across streets in
the middle of the block ought to be prohibited
and it ought to be enforced, even IL its requires
several arrests 10 make tne ptopie CohPiy'
lust as it required a number OF arrests to teach
the driver of a vehicle that the new trafhc
regulations had to be obeyed.
Let it be definitely understood that as the
sidewalks are reserved for people on foot. so
the middle of the street IS reserved for !ehic!es'
and crossings can only be made at street inter-
sections where the drivers Ct vehicles will be
oil their guard.
And this brings us to another dangerous sit
uation that ought to receive attention in order
to make the highways safer in the more rural
districts. As settlements grow up on the out
skirts of the larger towns and cities the number
of people walking on the country roads in
crease. Take any highway leading out Of Perth
Amboy and it will be found that scores OF peo-
pie are walking along the paved section, which
is all too narrow at best for the vehicular traf-
fc. Hundreds of people walk along the road
between this city and Fords. or to Woodbridge,
or across the bridge to South Amboy. AS no
sidewalks are provided they walk in the road
and often two and three abreast, occupying
sometimes half the road. They refuse to step
to one side as an automobile approaches and
resent greatly having the horn blown to warn
them. The wonder is that there are not more
people killed under these conditions. The danger
is especially great at night when a person walk
ing on the side of the road is come upon sud
denly.
II we desire to cut down the number of
deaths on our highways sidewalks ought to be
provided on such roads as the highway between
Perth Amboy and Fords; there should be a
place exclusively for pedestrians on the bridge
and they should be compelled to keep in that
49, y ~tLa- -,ArJo the drive NJ n vehicle
ought to have certain rights just as the pedes-
trian has, and he ought to be protected in those
rights. In this way will a great step be taken
toward cutting down the number OF accidents
on the streets and highways.
Then the children!
Yes, there is the great problem. How many
little lives have been snuffed out while playing
in the street. The average highway under mod
ern conditions is not a fit place for any child 10
play In. Only recently we commented on the
fact that Chief Tonnesen gave his men in
structions to break up every game OF basenail
found going on in the street. No debut this Is a
DANGEROUS practice. 1t is dangerous Tor the
children who are playing the game ana IL Is
dangerous for persons walking along the street.
not to mention the annoyance to the people IN
front of whose homes the game Is going on
j 1t what's the answer?
There is but one answer-playgrounds.
Give the children adequate Fairgrounds TO
play In and keep the pedestrians out OF the
middle of the street except at crossings at the
intersection of streets and the fatalities on the
streets and highways <of the country will be
cut down enormously.
judging from repeated price drops, Ford Is
the new price level.
As the world grows Smaller" its problems
grow larger.