Evening star., 1928-10-14
Asst week compulsory au-
tomobile insurance was

tomobile insurance wa:
stressed in these columns
- This week compulsory con-
troll of pedestrians at intersections
operated by traffic signal lights or
policemen is urged.
This is urged by thinkers inter-
ested in traffic problems, not to
allow motorists more freedom, but
to safeguard the pedestrians.
Many believe all cities to be di-
vided into two partS-motoriSts
and pedestrians. But all motor
lists are sometimes pedestrians,
and most all pedestrians are
sometimes motorists.
Urge Pedestrian Control.
Traffic Director William H. Har-
land and his assistant are in full
support of pedestrian control.
Last week a man was killed at
Connecticut avenue and S street.
It is said that he was walking on
the red signal into the flow Of
traffic. If he had waited for the
green light this tragedy would not
have happened. Minor accidents
happen daily from the same
cause.
The traffic office has recon-
mended suitable regulations gov-
erning pedestrian control to the
Commissioners. So far. they have
not acted. Until such a regula-
tion is enacted, making it a police
violation to walk against the red
light or stop Semaphore, the pc
deStrianS themselves should vol
unfairly use their own common
sense.
Another death has resulted
from a machine plunging over the
sea wall into the Potomac River
The verdict of the coroner was
accidental death by drowning"
Traffic officials are loath to call
deaths of this sort traffic fatali-
ties.
Sea Wall Deaths.
During the last II months five
persons have met their end in
such a manner. It has been sug-
geSted that the sea wall around
Potomac, Park be raised a few feet.
This safeguard, while expensive,
would also protect Potomac Park
from the waters of the river when
at high levels. Five deaths of this
sort are five too many. Some
thing should be done. This mat
ter, however, is not in the hands
of the Traffic Department. 1t
comes under the Office of Public
Buildings and Grounds.
Complaints have come into the
Traffic Bureau regarding the
practice of trucks darting into the
flow of traffic on M street IN
Georgetown. Coming into the
heavily travelled thoroughfare
from side streets, many of these
trucks pause at the stop signs, but
fail to wait until their way is
clear, and plunge out without the
regard for the rights of others.
This practice is very dangerous
and police should be stationed at
those intersections to arrest driv-
ers Of this kind.
Automobile Shows.
Coming events cast their shad-
ows before them. The date of the
Washington automobile show has
been set for Saturday, January 26,
and will continue through until
Saturday, February 2. This will
be the week following the Balti-
more show, which, in turn, follows
the Philadelphia show, which fol-
lows the New York show.
News of the automobile show
hl New York already has started
10 come in. A report states:
Signing up every square foot
Of floor space as the automobile
industry approaches a new pro-
duction record for all time, more
than $50 motor vehicle, parts and
equipment makers reserved their
positions for the New York and
Chicago automobile shows at the
annual drawing, held in the Of
fees of the National Automobile
Chamber of Commerce, October 4.
The New York event will be jan
uary 5-12 and the Chicago show
January 26-February 2. Forty
two makers of motor vehicles will
exhibit over 200 models. Parts
and equipment makers, the bulk
of whose space is reserved by the
Motor & Equipment Association,
will include 225 exhibitors. Five
foreign cars will be exhibited in
New York.
September production, based on
chipping reports submitted by the
factories, is estimated at 10000,
including the entire industry and
the output of Canadian factories
making cars Of American design.
This brings the nine months total
to 3,693.563, or within less than
1900 of the previous high record.
This, taken in conjunction with
present retail sales, indicates that
the years figures will be consid-
erably ahead Of any previous
total"
German Club Here.
Officers of the Allgemeinel
Deutscher Automobil Club, Ger
many's largest motoring organiza-
tion, called at the White House
Friday to pay their respects tt
President Coolidge.
They are at the head of party
of 129 German motorists who are
touring the Eastern part of the
United States under the auspice!
of the American Automobile ASso.
citation as the first of a series Of
tours to promote international
motoring through the % foreign
Affiliations of the national motor
ing body.
Members of the party. who ART
travelling in eight special parlol
car busSeS, arrived in Washington
Thursday afternoon and remained
here until Saturday morning.