Evening star., 1935-11-15
URGES REGULATION
OF PEDESTRIANS.
Traffic Observer Says Rules
0ne.Sided Against
MotoriSt.


present safety campaign by contribut-
ing suggestions on various phases OF
the local traffic problem.
washington" he pointed out, sis
notorious for its wide streets and
phlegmatic traffic. And this is no
paradox. No. This is acute pedes-
trianisn, rancorous and vicious"
Robb pointed out that If Utopian
conditions existed, traffic control
might be simple. But, he says, "the
average person has a palsied sense
Of rhythm and the individual con-
science is wrapped in egoism. And
when this average individual is al
lowed to 60 on his halting and self
directed way the results are deplorably
quoted in our papers.
And thus" he continued, Eve have
policemen, speed-limits, stop signs
and lights. These inhibitions are
placed solely against vehicular traffic.
In other words, the individual con-
sciences of our motorists are not relied
upon to conduct a safe business OF
Traffic.
Pedestrians Bump, Too.
"It is perfectly obvious why re-
strictions are first placed on motor
traffic. The motorist drives a po-
tential instrument of DEATH to quote
from a recent letter to the editor.
Motor traffic is inherently and vastly
more dangerous than pedestrial
traffic. The pedestrian, in fact, has
no innate lethel aspects, other. per-
haps, than a proclivity toward sui
eide. Pedestrians bump and jostle
each other. Toes and tempers often
burn. But death never counts its
score when pedestrian collides with
pedestrian. Obviously, motorized
traffic is the killer.
What has been done about it? The
statute book Is fat with what the
driver must not do. The motorist
is barred from the sidewalks. The
pedestrian-and this Is Significant
has all the sidewalk he can trample
on. The danger occurs when he wishes
to leave one island sidewalk for an
other. And here, think, is the crux
of the question: To whom belongs
the right-of-way in the streets, to
motorist or pedestrian? And why,
up until now, has the control of
pedestrian traffic been left entirely
up to the individual conscience?
THE individual conscience, as q
factor in social safety, Is barely exist
ent. Is there any reason why pedes-
trian, with conscience blunted by abb
sent-mindedness or deceived by near
sightedness or absorbed in self
thoughtfulness be even allowed to use
his conscience in crossing the streets.
] have screamed a mental no to
myself thousand times in the heat
of my downtown hikings. Whereas
the motorist is the driver of q poten-
tial instrument of death, the pedes-
trian is, in his very entity, potential
corpse.
More Complex Here.
1.-TWO more facts are significant. We
have a relatively high percentage Of
automobiles per capita, and, secondly,
we have relatively high percentage
of individual shoppers per capita.
This means that our problem OF ve-
hicular and pedestrian traffic is more
complex than in most cities.
"And so rest my case with plea
Tor sanctions on the pedestrian traffic
Just about the time people are begin
ming to know what sanction is"
Excerpts from some Of the other
letters received by The Star Council
follow:
"I have noticed that in most cases
drivers stop for a red light, but. in
stead Of being governed by the light
which controls their street, they
watch the light controlling the cross
street and the moment they see the
green light change they all start
moving, which naturally causes any
pedestrian who happens to be cross
ing the street to have to run for his
or her life. have also noticed street
car motor1nen watching the light on
their left for the same purpose. It Is
done to get the Jump on the other
fellow.
There should be a shade or re-
Hector or some obstacle put on all
lights 30 that motorists can't see any
light except the one on the street on
which they are travelling :. think If
we had each light equipped with .
bell or gong that struck before trafic
should move 1t would save accidents
and lives. G. G.. MILLER"
Every time I drive after dark, |
wonder why no effort has been made
to check up on glaring headlights. |
Some of them are dreadful, and very
dangerous. Couldn't there be COM |
pulsory check on lights? How about |
the police stopping few Of the glar- |
ing ones? Often, am sure, the driver |
does not realize he is offending. You
seldom see your own lights.
ALICE M. BENTON"
"It is q pleasure for me to forward
my pledge in cooperation with your
campaign for safer streets and high
ways for the city of Washington. |
Your campaign is wonderful step in
the right direction and I intend to
aid by keeping my pledge, which seems |
to me to be very easy matter for any
driver to do.
rDirector, Crispus Attucks News Serv- |
ice"
IT am inclosing my pledge for bet
Ter driving in the city Of Washington.
! have also distributed among men, |
bers of this association pledges for
their individual signatures, together |
with the request to mail direct. It |
Is sincerely hoped that your campaign |
will have the desired effect.
wv. STECHER,
rSecretary, Heating and Piping Con-
tractors, District of Columbia As
sociatiou."
"Am returning signed pledge cards
Of those who are driving cars In ounl
organization. It is wonderful cam
paign and I hope that great deal of |
erond will he accumulated