Evening star., 1935-12-02
PEDESTRIAN LIGHT
SYSTEM PROPOSED
Safety Correspondent Also
Urges Elimination OF
Left-Hand Turn.

Establishment in Washington Of
traffic lights for pedestrians, elimina-
ton Of the left-hand turn and prohi-
bition of driving on street car tracks
are among suggestions made to The
Star Safety Council by Ruth Scott,
l647 Fuller street. She is one of hun
dreds of writers who have co-operated
in the present safety campaign by
submitting the results of observations
and experiences gained in the daily
trafic battle.
She would eliminate the left-hand
turn "as a deadly menace to both
vehicular traffic and pedestrian" :"
Driving on street car tracks not only
constitutes a hazard to pedestrians
attempting to catch street cars, but
also slows street car travel, especially
In rush hours, she pointed out.
Excerpts from Letter.
Excerpts from her letter follow:
II think less traffic evils would occur
II drivers were to put away their cars
for, say, one month and be forced to
try the life of the pedestrian.
When making traffic regulations,
bear In mind the needs of the pedes-
trian as well as of the motorist. AS to
-walking-why not? However. If
the motorist will make few conces-
sions and give up few of his legalized
or assumed rights, maybe the walker
will play ball and give up jay-walking
and walking against the red light.
IT ask any motorist to attempt to
cross on foot any point on Columbia
road from Sixteenth street to Con-
necticut avenue at almost any time
in an effort to catch a street car or
to reach some point on the opposite
side. I have never yet seen motor
ist stop or even slow up one fraction
in speed to allow pedestrian to cross
this street. :. Another dangerous spot
Is Constitution avenue. A person
attempting to reach the Navy Depart
ment or leave 1t is confronted by a
steady stream of cars going at high
rate of speed and even passing through
ko-called safety zones.
Pedestrian Often Careless.
"Oh yes, the pedestrian is often
careless and perhaps somewhat
thoughtleSs and very often so confused
that he doesn't know what to do next
:. Those who are careful and kindly
drivers will join the pedestrians in
their criticism of the vicious, careless
kind and will be as anxious as we
are to make them see the error of
their ways
Now, please, no bells or gongs
Many time have been kept awake
in some small town by that horrible
changing. While it may solve the
problem Of some other towns, as
claimed by some of your correspond
ents, the bell or gong should be and Is
entirely unnecessary in conjunction
with lights. Surely, If driver and Pc
destrian haven't enough intelligence
to watch the light signals and be in
stantly ready to obey them, neither
one will have sufficient intelligence to
obey changing gong. 1t would only
confuse all who heard it, and would
add to the unnecessary city noises
which we hope to decrease, rather
than to increase. No bells or gongs for
Washington"
Sends Thanks for Pledges.
Excerpts from some of the many
other letters received by The Star
Council follow: ~
II wish to thank you for the pack
age Of pledges which you had printed
for our organization and which I am
having signed by our members. I
will see that they are returned to you
when they are all signed.
LAS was knocked down this Sum-
mer by an automobile truck which
backed into me, causing several seri-
GUS injuries, I am personally inter-
ested in this safety drive you are
making"
MRS. GERTRUDE LYONS,
President, District of Columbia
Federation Of Music Clubs
Enclosed Is another batch Of signed
pledges executed by members of the
Friendship Citizens Association.
I'VE find that many of the members
Of the association have executed the
pledge either individually or as
member of some other organization so
that practically all, If not all, of the
members of this association have
executed the pledge or will execute
same even though they will not be
shown as having executed same as a
member Of this association.
"A house-to-house canvass Is being
carried on within our territory for
membership. At each house visited,
the occupants are requested to execute
one or more Of the pledges, depend
ing upon the number of drivers of
automobiles residing therein. You will
see, therefore, that The Evening Star
Is being given full consideration in
this campaign, and that the number
Of pledges that have been heretofore
submitted and those inclosed and those
that may hereafter be mailed to you
do not represent the effort of the as
sociation In back of this very COM
mendable activity of The Evening
Star
SAMUEL J. FLICKINGER,
President of Friendship
Citizens Association.
"1 forward herewith an additional
consignment of $40 signed safe-driving
pledges, making total of 713 turned
In to date by the Department of Play
evro,,nle