Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-12

full control over pedestrian move
ment on the streets, particularly
in the crowded areas, is Strikingly
illustrated by the report of the
traffic fatalities for 1928 and for
the first four months of 1929. In
those 16 months 33 of the 112 per-
sons killed by automobiles on the
streets of the National Capital
were pedestrians.
The comparatively small num-
Der of drivers who are held for
criminal action after traffic fatal
tiles Just as eloquently illustrates
who generally is on the wrong
side Of the white line when a car
runs down a pedestrian.
This brings light to bear espe-
cially on the notable experiment
that is being carried on at Dupont
Circle, where there is automatic
pedestrian traffic control by a SyS-
tenn of lights augmented by in
StructionS at every crOSSWalk, for
pedestrians not acquainted with
the traffic conditions and regula-
lions in the city, to read for them
selves in the simplest, most easily
understood language. Signs at
both ends of each croSSWalk at
Dupont Circle tell the pedestrian
to go across the street on the red
and amber lights, and the 20
second intervals in vehicle traffic
that is afforded in the system al
lows the pedestrians to proceed
across at the many dangerous in
tersections about the circle with
out fear of moleStatlon:
Drivers Realize Danger.
The complex proposition that
motor vehicle operation has be-
come on the city streets of today
has made drivers fully conscious
of the dangers not only to life and
property but of arrest and fine,
or Jail sentence, that Turk in dis
regard to traffic regulations. The
drivers, except for small minor
ity, obey the signals and regula-
lions.
But not so the pedestrians. in
the opinion of the traffic experts
of the Traffic Bureau. They have
not yet become conscious OF the
need of pedestrian traffic control,
and. consequently, reSentfully dis
regard traffic lights and officers
signals, taking them to be only
for the motor vehicle.
Officials of the Traffic Bureau
are carefully watching the effect
of the signs at Dupont Circle, and
if their presence brings about bet
ter conditions around this section,
it is likely that the system will be
adopted wherever there are traf-
f1c lights in operation, with a like
system of telling pedestrians when
to proceed at the police-controlled
crossings.
Assistant Director of Traffic NJ.
o. Eldridge yesterday hailed as a
big aid to police the plan of the
washington Chapter of the Amer
lean Business Club to launch a
drive of publicity and education
to bring into the consciousness OF
the pedestrians of the National
Capital some idea of the dangers
of their disregard of the traffic
lights and officers signals. He an
nOunced that the Traffic Bureau
stands ready to help the club in
any way possible, and expressed
the opinion that such action by
an independent group Of private
citizens would have a greater eff
feet upon the public than the pro-
mitigation of more rules and regu-
lations by the Traffic Bureau.
Force Not Large Enough.
Suggestions of those interested
in pedestrian control, along the
lines of following at all places
where traffic signal lights now are
in effect the precedent started at
Dupont Circle-printing inStruc-
lions for pedestrians observance
of crossing rules on the side
walks at the crosSwalks-met the
statement from Inspector Browns
Office that there are hardly enough
men available in the bureau at
present for maintenance OF the
croSswalks already painted on the
streets. In addition to mainte-
nance Of the croSSWalkS, this de-
tail also has under it's jurisdiction
the placing of all other traffic
signs, including funeral and we'd
ding emergency parking signs,
placing Of signs for all other
emergency events, and the iron
ing out of the problems that daily
arise with numerous construction
projects about town.
The members of the American
Business Club go so far as to Sug-
gest that after a publicity and
educational campaign on the sub
ject of pedestrian observance CT
crossing rules, the police take a
hand and arrest few of the more
fragrant offenders, and try in this
manner to drill traff1c-control
consciousness into the heads Of
pedestrians.
These tactics failed once in the
District courts, but since then the
law has been strengthened, and
now traffic officials have full pow
er to go ahead and enforce pedes-
TRAN control.
The police authority for traffic
control is cited in article 2, sec
ton 2, of the traffic regulations,
which PROVIDES that: Pedestrians
shall have the right Of way at all
crosswalkS except those controlled
by traffic officers and traffic de-
vices, and it shall be unlawful for
any person to cross the roadway
through moving traffic on any
street upon which traffic is con-
trolled by electric lights" and cat
all crosswalks controlled by traffic
officers or traffic devices pedes-