Evening star., 1935-11-06
SIGNALS FAVORED
FOR PEDESTRIANS
Traffic Planning Fails to
Heed Rights Of All,
Says Smithson.


scious and as q result trafflc planning
has not sufficiently taken into account
the need for proper pedestrian pro-
lection, in the opinion of John II.
Smithson, one Of the many Washlng-
tonians who have contributed sugRes-
tions to The Star Safety Council III
connection with the present safety
campaign.
If Washington were pedeStrian-con-
scious Smithson said, I'VE would not
have aided the autos by putting IN a
white line (called safety zoneo Tor
street car stops, so the autos would
not have to stop-as they formerly
did-in order to allow the pedestrian
70 reach the street car.
LAS it Is now, the pedestrian has TO
fght his way to the car" he coll
tinued. This arrangement has speeded
Up the travel Of autos to the dlsac-
vantage of pedestrians and car users.
When the traffic lights were installed,
the amber light was stated to be
largely for the benefit of the pedes-
trian, as 1t would allow him to clear
the walk before the green light came
on. As it works out. the amber is
only the autos signal to get into gear
and go through, ard let the pedestrian
look out for himself. Then we had
the turn from the center for left and
right hand turns. This the auto
drivers objected to and it was changed
10 the present method, which never
leaves the intersections clear for a
pedestrian, regardless of the position
Of the lights. Again the pedestrian
vas sighted.
Sees Need for Penalties.
so long as the pedestrians rights
are constantly violated in Washing
ton, the large publicity-which will
ali reams in the past two months
will not avail much. The problem
must be attacked from the standpoint
OF the pedestrians rights. He does
not have the sole right, but it Is OF
sufficient Importance to start from that
angle. But everything here Is done
for the benefit of the auto. We must
speed UP. TRAFFIC cannot be delayed
and the number of victims show the
price that is being paid constantly.
Even the traffic director, who is pre-
sumed to represent the pedestrians
and the motorists, comes out IN q
statement that it is safer to drive fast
than at a reasonable speed. If this
Is correct, drop all speed limits, and
let the motorist demonstrate the
fallacy of this statement. Education
Of the motorist will not cure the evil.
Punishment will, with system that
starts with the theory that the pedes-
trian's rights should be protected, and
until this Is done, no real headway
will be made. The auto drivers gen.
orally in washington have no regard
for the pedestrian. I know because I
drive a car and see demonstrations OF
It every day."
The letter from Mr.. Smithson is
one Of hundreds dealing with the local
trafdc situation received by The Star
Council Excerpts from some of these
other letters follow:
las secretary of the Northeast
Washington Citizens Association. I
have been directed to transmit to you
the following resolution adopted by
Resolved, by the Northeast Wash
lngton Citizens Association in regular
meeting assembled this 14th day of
October, 1885, that we heartily in
dorse the movement now being carried
on in the City of washington known
as the Safety Drive and that we
further resolve that a recommended
ton be made urging the necessity for
limiting the age for issuance of
drivers permit to those 18 or more
years of age.
Very truly yours,
JOSEPH NOTES,
sSecretary Northeast Washington
Citizens Association"
1T seems to me that speed laws
should read in terms Of stepping dis
tance and not in miles per hour. This
would allow greater speeds up hill
than down, etc. Roadside signs would
then show numbers indicating that
distance and each driver would be
presumed to control his speed accord
ingly. Stopped by trafiic officers, he
would have to demonstrate his ability