Evening star., 1935-12-08
Prize |SAWARDED
FOR SAFETY ESSAY
Or. T. A. H. Johnson Winner
in Competition of Dale
-Carneuie4 Club.

With the belief that trafhc safety
Is the most important public question
of the day, the Dale Carnegie Club
of Southeastern University, named for
the founder Of the. Y. M. c. A.
Schools course in public speaking, has
concluded an essay contest on the
subject won by DR.. Fordyce A. H.
johnson. DR.. James A. Bell, pres
ident Of Southeastern, directed the
contest.
At O dinner held last week at
Sholl's the following officers were
elected: Paul C. Kelly, president;
p. L. Edwards, vice president; w.
B. Cafky, treasurer; DR.. johnson
secretary; s. A. Talbot, sergeant
at arms. and Oliver B. Lerch, his
torian. DR.. Bell was made honorary
permanent president. Safety pledges
of The Star were signed at the
meeting.
Excerpts From Essay.
Excerpts from DR.. Johnsons win
ming essay, which was later broadcast
by him over Station WJSV, are as fol-
lows:
How many of you have heard this
subject discussed: The Prevention Of
Auto Accidents in the District of Co.
lumbia'? How trite it may seem to
you, yet have you stopped to think you
may be the next victim?
Drastic measures seem inevitable,
still few proposals, which If enforced,
will help materially in saving lives.
These proposals are:
"a. Traffic regulations for pedes-
trianS.
81. Pedestrians should be given the
right to cross the street in safety. This
can be done by adequate traffic lights
and by eliminating the yellow caution
light and placing a walk signal in its
place. The walk signal should stop
traffic in all directions at once and
allow the pedestrian sufficient time to
cross the street. The pedestrian should
be compelled to obey this signal by
strict enforcement and fine II dis
obeyed!
Jay-WaIking Control.
-. The next and a most important
proposed traffic regulation is one to
control jay-walking! 'Jay-walking is
the greatest cause of deaths to pedes.
trians in the long list Of causative fac
tors says the Travellers Insurance
Co. of Hartford, Conn. The elimina-
tion of jay-walking can be done by
lines; by arrests, and by requiring the
pedestrian to appear in court for fail
ure to observe this regulation.
3. Many children are found play
ing in the street. To eliminate this
suggest the building of community
houses and Fairgrounds where chill
dren may enjoy supervised recrea-
tion. In the meantime, I would sug-
gest that supervised instruction be
maintained on the school play
grounds, and that certain streets be
roped of to allow children adequate
and safe play space.
q. The public should be educated
by graphic illustration over the radio,
by newspapers, in churches and the
aters, as well as in public schools,
In order to emphasize the seriousness
Of disobeyings sstrafnc regulations.
Courtesies Essential.
"B. Traffic regulations for auto
lists. The man behind the wheel
must also realize his responsibility.
Courtesies from drivers are essen.
tial. Yet, how many Of us forget
we are ladies and gentlemen as soon
as we get behind a wheel? Proposals
in addition to those already In force
are:
81. Every driver Of a car should
furnish a statement as to his moral
standing. By this I mean whether
he is a habitual drunkard, quick
tempered or of q stable mentality.
Too, there should be a close check
Of the number of accidents the ap-
plicant for a license has been In
volved in, whether minor or OF O SER
1ouS nature.
%. Every driver should have a
physical examination as to physical
defects in vision, hearing and loss
OF limb.
''3. And last but not least, there