Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
The schooIboy Safety Patrol.

The pleasures of motoring.
whether in the open stretches OF
the country or in the densely crowd
ed parts of cities, can be enjoyed to
the fullest only when thoughts and
practices OF safety are uppermost in
the mind of the driver. No trip. no
matter Row short, can be a source
of delight to lovers of touring If the
driver is constantly Just missing &C
cidents, either by his own negligence
or the faults of others. One slight
mishap or one close call can mar
whole journey Therefore, it is up
to the driver to drive at all times
with extreme care, to avoid taking
risks and TO be ready by intelligent
operation of the car to steer out OF
traps caused by oareleSsness Of
Others, whether they be motorists
or pedestrians.
The "don'ts' for the autoists are
well known. The "don'ts' for pedes-
trians are likewise frequently pub
hshed. But il is the don't for little
Children-kchool children-for under
the District OF Columbia S compulsory
education law all little children are
school Children-that often only the
parents know. or at least remember.
Their protection is paramount. II
is 10 be expected that young chill
dren will dart heedlessly into the
street, and all the instruction in the
world will not keep them from for
getting the rules of safety. They
will try to hitch on wagons. and at
times make the streets in front Of
their schools a veritable playground.
The action Of the District Commits
sioners in closing such streets to We
hicular traffic during recess has
proved a valuable safeguard.
But something else was needed.
So in this city a year ago last Octo-
Der the schoolboy safety patrol was
organized. Similar patrols have been
organized throughout the country,
sponsored and aided in many places
by automobile clubs of the American
Automobile Association. Since its
inception the system has proven a
success.
Washington now has go boy
patrolmen, representing 81 schools.
The school patrol has received the
fullest support from traffic officials
and the police force. When motor
ist drove by a boy patrols signal a
short time ago he was brought INTO
Traffic Court, where the Judge I'M
posed a fine of $40.
Frank w. Ballou, superintendent OF
schools. has Endorsed highly the work
that the District of Columbia Auto
mobile Club has done toward acct
dent prevention. In recent letter
to the club manager. he said:
Especial credit belongs to your
active interest and support. Not only
did YOU give us your counsel and eX-
perience. but YOU supplied the patrol
with belts and badges OF authority,
which have been respected by pupils
and very generally by autolsts.
Teachers and pupils approve OF the
work of the patrols and appreciate
the efforts that you and your asso-
ciates are making to protect children
from traffic accidents"
Although the object of the patrol
is to prevent children from getting
into danger, in many cases the pa
trolls have actually saved children
from oncoming peril by grabbing
them out of the way.
x y
Duties of the school patrol, while
II in number, are concise and to the
point. They are as follows: /. Each
member of the patrol must sign a
record card, which is countersigned
by the school principal and sent to
the accident prevention department
of the Automobile Club. 2 Members
of the patrol are required TO take
their stations at street intersections
and along the street 20 minutes be-
fore the opening hour of school and
are on duty until FIVE minutes after
the opening of school or until such
time as the school authorities may
decide. 8. The patrol escorts the
children across the streets in groups
and encourages children to cross the
street only at intersections which are
guarded by patrolmen. Jay-walking
is positively prohibited. 4. The pa
troll reports to the teacher or prin-
cipa1 the names of children who will
fully disobey the directions of pa
.trolnen. 5. Upon the approach of
an automobile at a street intersec-
4tion, the patrolman who is waiting
to escort group of children across
the street will hold up his hand to
the approaching motorist, indicative
of his desire to cross, but he is not
to attempt to cross until the motor
ist has complied with the signal and
has come so stop. Patrolmen are
warned not to abuse this signaling
privilege, and any motorist who Vio-
lates a reasonable request to stop
will usually be taken to task by po-
gice judges. E. Patrolmen, while on
duty at street intersections, will take
their posts on the curb-not in the
street-and will signal to approach
ing motorists, when necessary, from
the curb.
!. In case of accident. the patrol
man will Immediately report it to the
principal. who will call the nearest
police station. g. Patrolmen will
take the license number of any mo-
torist who refuses 10 stop upon
signal or who operates an automobile
in a careless manner and report him
or her to the teacher, who will notify
in turn the accident prevention de
partment of the Automobile Club. g
II a regular policeman is on duty at
the street intersection to direct traf-
Sc, patrolmen will work under the
direction of the policeman in direct
ing pedestrian movement. 10. Patrol
men will report through the principal
to the accident prevention depart
nent of the Automobile Club special
acts of courtesy by motorists toward
school children, and the club will
communicate with the motorist and
express appreciation upon the part