Evening star., 1928-04-08
PEDESTRIANS HELD
KEY TO ACCIDENTS
Control of Walkers in Los An
ueIeS Cited as Means of Re-
ducing Fatalities.

Seventy per cent Of all traffic fatalities
result from collisions between motor ve-
hicles and pedestrians, 1t follows that
any helpful plan to segregate motor We
hicular and pedestrian trafic must
necessarily command attention. Today
there is motor vehicular control The
movements of passenger cars, trucks and
buses are regulated in most eommunl-
ties by electric lights. hand SemsphoreS
operated by traffic officers and by Sig
nails given by traffic policemen. But III
most cities we haven't much i'll the way
of pedestrian control
II is often thought that pedestrian
control" is probably an unfortunate eN-
nrassion. 1t seems to carry with 1t the
ices that some one is trying to deprive
ire ne6estrian Of some Of his rights:
The main truth is that the advocate OF
radestrian control simply wishes 70 SSt
into the pedestrians mind that traInc
rules regulations and signals are eQuaAl
rs much for his safety and convenience
as they are for the motoriSt
Los Angeles Cited.
American cities can well AFFORD 70
study the experience OF Los EAlseIeS'
1,b;cl, has learned that pedestrian con-
troll is. like practically every other Saiety
measure. a matter Of education. AS
rninted out hy E. E LeffertS. manager
Of ths ruhlic safety section OF the AUTO
r1nlaile Club of Southern California. Pc
6estrian control in Los Angeles mao 10
travel a long and tortuouS path before
a practical plan was finally enacted lnVo
an ordinance.
Over a period of three years 1t was IN
eroiuced three different times IN tile cits
council. Each time it was vetoed oy the
mayer. Naturally, each time ii came
before the council it attracted a great
zeal IF newspaper attention and was
quite thoroughly discussed on the Guy
streets.
Sufscient favorable sentiment was
finally developed 50 that it was possible
the third time TO pass IL over the may
or,s veto. At the same time, Ii aooitlon
"a ne6esfrian regulation. the entire uat-
Az ordinance was revised and Slmpn-
fed. The newspapers, the radio ana
other mediums all paid considerable at
tention TO the plan. Just what II was
proposed to DO was brought repeatedly
10 the public's attention.
Complete control. both OF pedestrians
and automobiles. followed a series OF ex-
perimerts in dividing the right of way
between the motor vehicle and the Pc
destrian. For long time Los Angeles
has had q regulation compelling auto
mobiles to stop behind standing cars,
which provides protection TO pedestrians
desiring TO board or alight. Next. pri-
rnariIv to protect school children, white
lines were drawn across streets where
large numbers Of children regularly
crossed Motorists were required 10 stop
before crossing these lines This was not
successful, because II conpeiieo many
motorists TO come to fun stop curing
hours when there was no need for this
precaution,
White Lines Guide.
las Angeles finally adopted the pres
ent regulation, which calls for the pro-
lonration of the sidewalk lines across
the street These lines are divided IN
the center BY another white line, max
ing in effect an elongated letter H
between the curbs. with the croSs-bar
~ the letter in the center Of the street.
The notorist is compelled to stop and
remain standing while pedestrian is
IN that half of the lane on the side OF
the street on which the motorist is trav-
cling until the pedestrian has passed be-
yond the path Of the vehicle.
Los Angeles next step vas TO sepa-
rate pedestrian and vehicular traffic by
constructing pedestrian tunnels An
approved bond issue Of S35O.0OO has
made possible the building OF 40 OF
these tunnels. practically all OF which
have been completed.
Los Angeles experience Is particularly
worthy of study when 1t is remembered
that In Los Angeles County alone are
nearly CSC, 600 automobiles car TO
every two and fraction persons.
Mr.. Lefferts makes an observation
which Is Of particular interest TO the
naotorist. The pedestrian. he saws. does
not resent being regulated when he
realizes he is getting a $3.50" break
with the motorist This equality Is
achieved, he explains, when the pedes-
trian is not required 70 wait an unrea-
s0nab!e length Of time on the corner,
and is given some protection when he
happens to be IN the center Of the street
when the signal changes. In Los An
geles, ii appears. the practicability OF
pedestrian control is being definitely
demonstrated.