Evening star., 1935-09-27

to have a separate pledge made out
for the walkers. AL Is needed Is for
them to learn the simple rules for
safe walking and heed them.
Cross at intersections. Cross only
on the go sign at controlled corners.
Look before crossing. Do not run
walk Do not jaywalk or cross dag
onally. Play safe. Make sure that
children are not allowed to play In
the street-or cross in the middle Of
the block-especially between parked
cars.
Van Duzer Urges Penalties.
Excerpts from Mr.. Van Duzer's
statement before the Commissioners
yesterday are as follows:
Pedestrian control is the only way
we can halt tragedy in the street and
make the careless walker walk care
fully.
Punish the imprudent pedestrian,
just as you do the drivers. Give him
ticket and make him pay a fine"
Van Duzer stated.
Pedestrians will not cooperate for
their own safety. We will have to
force them to protect themselves from
highway death.
"A number Of cities already have
pedestrian control. Pedestrians who
violate the regulations are taken into
court just like the motorists.
LOS Angeles has had pedestrian
control for a long time. San Fran
cisco, Seattle, El Paso, Tulsa and
Knoxville are some of the others I
can recall offhand.
''Of the 79 traffic deaths here this
year, so Of the victims were pedes-
trians and 40 Of them were held re-
sponsible for their own deaths as a
result of their own carelessness.
80 Killed Last Year.
Last year out of total of 1876 per-
sons killed in traffic accidents in
Washington 80 were pedestrians. In
Sc of these accidents investigations
show that the pedestrians were pre-
su:nably at fault. In % of the cases
study shows the drivers were at fault.
In the cases where the pedestrians
were at fault, 35 were crossing not at
crosswalks, Z were walking in the
street between intersections, 9 pedes-
trians stepped from behind parked
cars, were pedestrians crossing the
street at traffic-controlled intersec-
tions against the signal light, 3 we're
playing in the street, 4 of the pedes-
trians were intoxicated, 2 were coast
ing in the street and were inatten-
tive to traffic conditions at the time"
Maj. Brown, superintendent of po-
lice, concurred with Mr.. Van Duzer,
but added he believed more police
would be necessary for proper en-
forcement.
Letters Advocate Control.
Among many letters received urging
pedestrian control the following are
excerpts:
"Inclosed you will find my Safe
Driving Pledge which I consider a
pleasure and duty to sign.
Now for just a suggestion which
1 think is needed to complete your
campaign:
why not Safe Pedestrian Pledge?
Print a pledge along the lines of
the present one but have it adapted
to pedestrians with few of the fol-
lowing pledges:
Il. Never cross against a red light
y. Always look well before crossing.
"3. Never jaywalk
a. Walk fast enough to try to clear
the intersection after the light
changes.
"5. If caught between traffic after
light changes, will not try to beat
a car, and will await proper signal
from the driver.
e. Rebuke all children playing in
the street.
~. Endeavor to have my friends
sign this pledge.
And as my second why not:
Print petition to be signed by drivers
and pedestrians-urging that the
Commissioners enact definite laws and
for crossing against red
lights and jaywalking. If this Is
brought about or the Commissioners
would back our present law which
forbids pedestrians from going against
signals by stating that the cars shall
have right of way in certain cases,
then we might begin to see a decline
in accidents with pedestrians. How
about it? REUBEN A. SANDERS"
Advocate Fine for Jaywalking.
Il have been greatly interested in
your safety drive. having been one of
the committee of the safety drive Or