The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-12-11
OFFICER FINDS
PEDESTRIANS
CARELESS
Edward s. ouptiA Says They
Take Chances He, a Former
Aviator, Would Fear

Crossing Officer Edward s. Cup.
till, who directs traffic ct Seventh
and r. streets northwest. served
through the greater part OF the
world war in the aviation forces Of
England and America on the west.
ern front, but he declared today he
wouldn't take the chances he sees
pedestrians taking constantly cross
ing the Seventh and r intersection
while traffic is moving.
Watch the traffic sign" is his
advice to pedestrians In particular.
Failure OF pedestrians to watch
the traffic semaphore and move in
compliance with its directions is the
cause OF the greater part of Wash
ington's traffic difficulties, Guptill
pointed out as he swung the soma
phore at one of Washington
tricky" corners, one-way street
on the one side and a blind"
corner on the other side of Seventh
street complicating conditions.
Take Big Chances.
The situation at this intersection
as seen from Guptill's post is
rather convincing evidence that his
opinion Is far from wrong. AS he
moved traffic today, he indicated
instance after instance Of the long
chances pedestrians take in cross.
ing busy intersections.
One class Of pedestrians, when
they reached the curb. hesitated
despite the fact that the. traffic
sign pointed go" = They waited
until traffic in the cross direction
was signalled to move and then
made a flying leap into the stream
or street cars and automobiles. A
few persons boldly walked diagon.
ally across the intersection.
Scarcely any cast glance in the
direction of Guntil and his signals
until they got into trouble. The
closest he has been to having an
accident at his corner, Guptil said,
was when woman tried to beat
a street car across the street.
There's got to be more cooper.
alton with the traffic officer IL
traffic is to be handled smoothly
and with safety to both pedestrians
and auto drivers Guptill declared.
Ignore, Semaphore.
Pedestrians seem to think that the
semaphore is not meant for them,
Guptill pointed out, whereas 1t is
designed to protect the pedestrians
as much If not more than the
motorists. When an accident
occurs, or is narrowly averted, the
crossing officer is usually the first
one to come in for blame.
Time after time the crossing
officer expressed amazement at the
chances pedestrians took.
81 wouldn't take such a chance
for the world" Guptill said, as he
watched pedestrian try to slip
across the street before a street
car getting into motion, or walk
between two automobiles moving In
traffic. IF people could only see
themselves as l see them, they'd
act in an entirely different way
when they cross Streets
Fine Fog Jay-Walkers.
Guptill believes that a regulation
should be framed to control move
ments of the pedestrians as well as
the motorist. He suggests a jay
walking regulation as safety
measure that he believes is badly
needed in Washington to protect
the pedestrian.
Other cities have found such q
regulation effective in controlling
traffic, Guptill pointed out. He re-
ferred to his home city, Boston,
where Guptill, by the way, served
while on the police force. There,
a fine Of $40 or $25 is imposed on
the jay walker. A night traffic
court and adequate fines for all
traffic offenses, would be effective
remedies for traffic evils, in the
opinion of Officer Guptill.