Evening star., 1923-02-05
Rules for Walkers.

In its, recommendations to the Dis
trict Commissioners the traffic com.
mittee that has for some time past
been considering the problem of rules
and measures for. prevention of acci-
dents in Washington offers the follow
ing fifteen points for the regulation
and guidance, of pedestrians. These
are as follows:
Keep to the right on sidewalk, cross
walk, roadway and passageway (but
on highway without sidewalk keep to
the left SO as.to have clear view of ap-
preaching traftic): observe traffic be-
fore stepping from curb and keep off
roadway except when crossing; keep
out of traffic whirlpools; cross road
way at right angle. not diagonally,
and. if reasonably possible. on cross
walk watch for traffic officers signals
and heed traffic signs and limits. stand
on sidewalk or within safety zones
while waiting for street ears; face
and step toward front of car when
alfghting; watch out for traffic when
obliged TO pass from behind car; OBJ
serve traffic when alighting from car !,
enter and leave car-stop safety zone
only at crCsswalk; don't stand in the
middle of sidewalk, but to either
side. out Of the way; do not loiier on
a crosswalk or before an entrance;
when sidewalks are narrow, use the
one on the right; do not walk more
than two abreast on croSswalk or
busy thoroughfare: hand or foot pro-
PEELED conveyanceS and skaters. when
on roadway. must observe vehicular
regulations.
These propositions are all reasonable
and sound. If all pedestrians will OBJ
serve them the accident record will
be lessened. Unquestionably many of
the mishaps in the streets result from
careleSsness on the part Of those who
walk. people stepping out from the
curbs without observing traffic condi.
tions, moving irregularly in the streets
in the stream of traffic, crossing
streets on diagonals with their backs
to oncoming vehicles, trying to save
time" by jumping ahead of moving
cars, doing, in short, many things that
are dangerous in the necessarily
crowded streets of modern city.
If all pedestrians in Washington
would observe these rules responsi:
bility for traffic accidents in which
people afoot are the victims would
rest squarely with the drivers of mo-
tors and wagons. The people who
walk should observe the rules. even
though they may never be given the
form of law. The only point in writ
ing them into law in any form is to
establish the question Of RESPONSE
bility in case Of accident. If person
does any one of the things that are
prescribed he is in some measure him.
- fn.
But this Is not matter Of fixing
blame or holding anybody accountable
for punishment or in damages. The
point is to safeguard life and limb, to
make Washington safer, to give the
people who are afoot q better chance
Of security. They must, in large meas
ure, protect themselves. But they
must not be left, with all their regard
for reasonable rules, at the mercy of
careless or speeding drivers, 1t is
necessary TO check reckless motoring
if the streets are to be safe.
In the matter OF the lights at night.
1t must be borne In mind that the per
son who drives must be governed by
the conditions. If the lights are 50
dim that it is difficult. to see people
who are ahead then cars must be kept
under strict control. so that If a per-
son suddenly comes in view the driver
can check his machine in time to avoid
a collision. 1t is, of course, up to the
people afoot at night to watch for the
lights of machines. An approaching
machine. properly lighted can he seen
even when a pedestrian cannot be
seen. But there must be the same con-
sideration for the pedestrian after
dark as during the day. and, in fact,
moro consideration ia view of the lack
Of proper illumination. '