Evening star., 1923-01-30
TRAFFIC EXPERTS
OFFER RULES TO
CURB D. c. PER|LS
Emo Report to Commission
ers, However, Asks Few
Changes in Law.
THREE DEFINITIONS GIVEN
FOR RECKLESS DRIVING
Resolution Before Senate Commit
tee Providing Investigation
of Enforcement.

tions of the District traffic committee
for the dual regulation of street ve-
hicles and pedestrians were present
ed to the Commissioners today and
were found to contain few important
changes over existing laws.
The recommendations laid before
the Commissioners at their board ses-
sion today were drawn up by a COM
mittee Of experts, headed by William
P. Emo, appointed by the Commits
stoners for the purpose of studying
conditions here and finding a way 10
cure the traffic danger in Washington.
The findings Of the committee were
presented by Mr.. Emo, in formal re-
port.
While the complete report was not
made public, it is understood to con
tain no specific amendments to exist
ing police regulations, although it
was stated important changes would
be recommended later.
Curb OF Reckless Driving.
To curb reckless driving, Mr.. Enos
committee recommended these three
regulations; Reckless driving is un-
lawful and includes:
81. Driving any vehicle when it is
not under practical control, especial
ly at crosswalks and roadway inter
2. Failing to exercise due care in
crossing or entering the traffic Of
another roadway, bearing in mind
that it is obligatory not to interrupt
oughfares unnecessarily.
"3. Exceeding a reasonable, consid-
erate and safe speed rate under ex-
listing conditions or the speed rate es-
tablished by law"
For the guidance of pedestrians, the
committee recommended fifteen rules
which were summarized in the fol-
lowing language:
Keep to the right on sidewalk, cross
walk, roadway and passageway tbut on
highway without sidewalk keep to the
left so as to have clear view Of ap-
preaching traffic): observe traffic be-
fore stepping from curb. and keep off
roadway except when crossing; keep out
OF traffic whfrlpools; cross roadway at
right angle, not diagonally. and, Ii rea-
sonably possible, on a crosswalk watch
for traffic officers signals and heed
traffic signs and limits: stand on Side
ing for street cars; face and step toward
front Of car when alighting: watch out
for traffic when obliged to pass from
behind car: observe traffic when alight-
safety zone only at cross%alk; don't
stand in the middle of a sidewalk, but to
either side, out Of the way; do not loiter
on crosswaik 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
Rigid Enforcement.
In the meantime the city-wide de-
mand for the rigid enforcement of ex-
listing traffic regulations and the inn
position of Jail sentences on speeders
and careless drivers grew rapidly to-
day and found an imperative echo in
both the House and Senate were reused
by revelation of the fact that traffic
fatalities increased 100 per cent in the
last two months over the same period
of last year
The demand for stringent traffic en-
forcement seemed likely to have the
effect Of getting immediate action on
the resolution of Senator Robinson
Of Arkansas, providing for an in
vestigation into traffic regulations
the District committee or a subcom-
mittee of that body. The resolution
is now before the District committee
for consideration and the District
SOIIIIliSSiOneTS nave Deen requested
TO hurry report on their opinion of
the proposition.
Representative Zihlman of Mary
land, who has a bill pending before
the House District committee, IL a.
favorable report can be secured at
the meeting tomorrow without caus-
ing lengthy debate will try to get
his measure up for action in the
House next Monday. If not he feels
certain that he can get a favorable
he 80
House District committee. The Zihi-
man bill provides for traffic court
and stringent penalties, especially
for persons accused Of driving while
intoxicated. 1t also provides strict
penalties for failure to stop when B.
pedestrian is hit.
Representative Zihlman said today
that the present regulations are no
where near drastic enough He feels
that there should be. a separate court
presided over by a Judge who is familiar
with habitual offenders. He added that
there should be additional corporation
counsel to handle traffic cases exclu-
sively.
accidents Disgrace City"
Representative Brown of Tennessee
declared the list Of traffic accidents to
be a disgrace to the National Capital
He is in favor of the Zihlman bill and
will endeavor to get it favorably re-
ported.
Representative Brown said trafic
officers and members of the police force
generally ought to make arrests when
they see violations. especially at cross
walks, without waiting for accidents to
happen. He said the drivers Of motor
cars, especially hackers, seemed to think
they always have the right of way
Commissioners Rudolph and Keller
today approved the suggestion that
the courts impose Jail sentence upon
first offenders against the speed reg
ulations.
"I believe it would be a good move"
said Mr.. Rudolph, chairman of the
board
Col. Keller said he is in favor of
any step that would tend to make
motorists realize the danger they
create by reckless driving.
Commissioner Oyster was confined
to his apartment today and his views
could not be obtained.
Col. Keller observed that Saturdays
fatal accidents occurred in residential
sections of the city, indicating that
the crowded downtown thoroughfares
are not the only danger points.
There is a general feeling that the
time for nicely worded, genteel traf-
DC regulations is past In the opinion
of motorists, pedestrians and oficiala
Washington must follow the example
of other cities and lay down "hard-