Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-14
More Signal Lights
At Crossings Urged

10 the EdltOf OF Inc star:
Speaking Of accidents, doesn't 1t seem
as though there might be few less If
the city provided signal lights at more
of the crowded crossings?
Wouldn't 1t help some If there was a
law prohibiting taxicab drivers from
scurrying around corners, swooping
around car that completely blocks
their view of traffic and taking short
cuts through safety zones? Why are
they. the taxicab drivers especially, al
lowed the special privilege of trying to
rush the signal lights, or traffic cop,
coming pell-mell to the very edge of
the white line, or an imaginary one
then jamming on their brakes? And
should you be a pedestrian crossing the
street and seeing those Leaplng Lenas
coming, at the same time trying to keep
an eagle eye on the signal to find out
whether you still have the right of way
or whether they are going to bowl you
over-isn't it a gr-r-and and glorious
feeling! And like tiger ready to spring
on its prey the taxi stands purring, the
driver all tense. waiting for the signal
and with Zip-its off. We cross by
faith as we'll as by signal where there
Is one, and with an extra prayer for
protection where there isn't. Take
-
There is traffic cop there during rush
hours. but even cop is apt to make
mistakes-my pet kick against them is
their timing of traffic. For instance:
The Avenue traffic was heavy between
$50 and PM, therefore he gave them
his chief attention, but there was some
traffic the opposite direction. When
reached the corner, the traffic was GO
ing on Twelfth street. I started along
with it. A motorist got through both
white lines-that is, his front wheels
were we'll over the second-When the
whistle blew. He very emphatically
cussed. We both backed to where we
started from After waiting some time
the whistle blew again. l. went across
so far as l know. the only pedestrian. /
got few PAGES beyond the second
safety zone (and I can sprint some)
when the whistle blew again. In the
meantime the oncoming traffic kept
coming on, and for some reason the
traffic officer decided to favor it and
was caught about 3 feet from the safety
zone, the traffic not slowing up the least.
I saw could not make the curb, but a
motorist, evidently thinking I would be
fool enough to try in spite of vehicles
three and four abreast, managed to
sWerve his car just enough to escape
hitting me when stepped back to the
light and Caution been flashed, I
would never have left the safety zone.
But how was to know that the officer
was going to blow his whistle? Another
day at the same crossing, this time in
the morning when there was no one di-
recting traffic, and the coast seemingly
clear in all directions, got to the first
safety zone, when suddenly from out of
seemingly nowhere taXicab dashed
through the zone where I stood, on
through the second safety zone toward
Fourteenth street. He looked back to
where 7 still stood rooted for a spell to
see how liked it. I shook my finger
at him and he laughingly went on his
way rejoicing No doubt he thought:
Gee, didn't I do that slick! I'm some
expert taxi driver!"
On the principle that necessity Is the
mother of invention. We can expect a
future race with revolving eyes in order
to see a car that might swoop around
a corner. take turn from one side of
the street to the other. as we'll as the
regular procession, with an added eye
in the top of the head to enable them
to dodge future Graf Zeppelins. Since
pendages. why not?
Another place where there is need of
a signal light, If anything more than at
Twelfth and the Avenue. is at Ninth
and r, because should there be a car
coming down Ninth street and you are
going up, when the car gets about two
thirds across 1t completely hides the
traffic sign from view. and should the
traffic officer change the signal at this
point, and I've known when he has
well, taxicab will get you If you
don't watch out If any one doubts that
you cannot see the signal just stand on
the lower right corner of Ninth and
at rush hour, or any hour when the cars
are going toward the Avenue. and,
should you cross, remember that a
Leaping Lena may swoop around the
rear of the car as soon as there is barely
enough space to escape the car-but
how about you? Verify the taxi drivers
faith is in--their brakes. Caution be
hanged! ELIZABETH WATERS.