The Washington times., 1922-10-20
Safe Streets
In Washington
BY BILL PRICE.


abiding citizens who drive or own
cars will fall in line with any cam
paign designed to further safe
guard human life in this city, and
will use their best endeavors to
impress the seriousness of existing
conditions upon all-auto drivers
and pedestrians alike.
When the publicity connected
with greater safety is ended, there
will be falling back into old ruts
and old ways, especially on the
part of drivers who do not think,
do not realize the dangers of speed
ing, and, frequently, do not care.
Irresponsibility is widespread and
is notably dangerous when it is the
asset of rash, needless drivers bent
upon their own pleasures, their
own desires, and unconcerned about
the rights of others. The man who
doesn't give rap for "the other
fellow" and is willing to take all
sorts of chances, will not be long
impressed with safety-first cam
paigns.
And so, while the traffic prob
lens of this city are growing with
the enormous increase in the use
of machines, relief must come
through revised traffic regulations
and a pronounced Tightening up
in the courts on those who are
clearly at fault for serious traffic
accidents. 1t is a mighty big and
unwelcome job the District Com
missioners and the courts have in
trying to solve these problems.
There will be HUNDREDS of sugges-
tions and endless criticism, much
of it undeserved.
Fixed speed limits for all Wash
ington are not sufficier tly elastic
to be fairly workable. Eighteen
miles an hour in some of our con-
gested streets, at certain times, in
vites disasters of the worst sort.
Twenty miles an hour on some of
the outlying streets or roads, with
little traffic and few pedestrians,
is an unwise restriction.
The existing traffic laws, as
pointed out by Commissioners
r U Dol PHI and KE l. l. E r,
do not provide variable rates
of speed to suit conditions.
A driver going twenty-five miles
may not be reckless as to himself
or others. At other tia the same
driver may be guilty dangerous
driving practices if running
faster than twelve mil,, an hour.
Traffic policemen are now COM
PEELED to enforce the laws to the
letter.
In London. Paris and many of
the large cities of this country the
matter of speed and recklessness is
placed squarely upon the shoulders
of the driver, and heavy penalties
are attached for those who delib-
erately endanger pedestrians and
drivers or occupants of other cars.
St. Louis is pointed out as the
model city. That city is without
speed limits, but the, individual
motorist is held to the strictest ac-
countability for safe operation of
his machine at all points where
danger threatens.
Commissioner OYSTER. too. is
absolutely right in his determina-
tion that there must be a stricter
enforcement of present traffic laws
and regulations as to slowing down
at street corners. There is good
cause for complaint on the part of
pedestrians that auto drivers here
hog the street crossings and show
little consideration for pedestrians.
There has been a lot of profound
advice to pedestrians to cross at
street intersections only, but when
they try to do so they must be
prepared to do variety of athletic
stunts to escape injury or death.
The dangers will be materially
lessened if traffic policemen will
begin campaign directed against
cutting street corners at unsafe
speed.
The motorist is not, of course,
wholly to blame for this street
corner situation. There are
thousands of pedestrians who are
as inconSiderate and as thouohtless