Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-16
Says ID. G.. Autoists
Break Traffic Rules

To the Editor of The Star:
! have just read with interest your
editorial in The Star OF January IL
entitled ut Is to Laugh" / did laugh,
but not at the humor of your Editorial.
You have found one regulation
against the pedestrian that is not being
enforced. In a recent survey of the
District traffic regulations ! found six
regulations designed for the protection
OF the pedestrians. and no attempt IS
ever made on the part OF the police TO
enforce any of them.
The six are briefly:
% Pedestrians have the right OF
way at cross-Waiks where no traffic OFF,
GERS are stationed
90 No automobile may stop at a
cross walk so as to block the way OF the
persons attempting to cross.
80 No automobile may park be-
tween white lines at cross-walks.
f4 No automobile may pass another
automobile going in the same direction
at crossing.
80 All automobiles must slow down
at crossings.
(6, Through traffic land 1t has been
decided that this includes pcdestrians)
shall have the right of way, at cross
,ngs. over automobiles making turns.
1t might be argued that these six
regulations are not meant for the pro-
lection of pedestrians. but II they are
not. then there are no traffic regula-
tions meant for the protection Of
walkers.
Nav discuss these regulations?
% have been trying for seven
| years in Washington to just once OBJ
| tain the right Of way at a cross-walk.
and all that / have ever received for
my pains is many narrow escapes /
| have seen many traffic officers. stand
| ing nearby while resting for few
minutes. watch car after car violate
| this regulation. but have yet 10 see an
officer attempt to enforce 1t.
| ,2) At every busy thoroughfare. even
| those controlled by traffic officers. au-
| tomobiles stop 50 as to completely block
! the cross-walk. thus forcing pedestrians
/ to 90 out amid the cars that have
| the RIGHT of way in order to get across
| the street. I have yet to hear OF any
autoist being fined for this offense, al
! though 1 see it happen at least score
of times each day.
| az ANY day that you have time. Mr.
| Editor. will gladly take you to cross
walks entirely blocked by parked au-
! tomobile. or automobiles. All l ask in
| return is that you show me the report
| of the driver or drivers being arrested.
| (4) Passing other automobiles going
| in the same direction at crossing Is
| about the most dangerous traffic vio-
| lation l know of. for the pedestrian.
| This regulation Is constantly violated
| and I have yet TO see any one arrested
| for its violation.
| 80 To slow down at a crossing Is
| the duty of every driver. II was de-
| cided in the case Of McFern VS.. Gardner
| that "A pedestrian crossing the street
! is not bound 10 stop. look and listen
| for automobiles" and that the burden
| Of avoiding an accident Is upon the
| driver Of the automobile. I ask you
! Mr.. Editor. II you have ever seen an
| automobile voluntarily slow down at
| crossing? Most Of those l see speed up
| I would like 10 know OF any conviction
| on this charge.
| IS, How does the regulation I have
| cited under t6) work out? Even al
| crossings controlled by policemen. the
| pedestrian. upon getting the Go" Is
| Immediately blocked py cars making
| turns Then. when these cars are
| through turning the corner the straight
| traffic has also gone by. and just as the
| pedestrian steps OF! the curb, or per-
| haps before he gets the Stop"
| The traffic situation today is the re-
suit OF the policy OF placing the convex
| fence of the motorist above the safety
| OF the pedestrian. The newspapers
| rant and rave over the carelessneSs o!
| pedestrians ard the great chances They
! take but try To get across the street.
| II YOU do not take chancel II Is
! argued that the faster cars are allowed
| TO go--the higher the speed limit-the
| less danger there is II is my opinion
| however, that II automobiles were only
! allowed tn co as fast as the mind OF the
driver will work in an emergency-they
/ would so at a walk.
JOHN ARTHUR SHAW