Evening star., 1935-11-03
ONE-WAY STREETS
URGED FOR CITY
Philadelphia Is Cited as
Example of Aid to Traffic
Safety.

Permanent one-way streets, syn
chronization of traffic lights through
out the city, rigid pedestrian control
and teaching of safety in the public
schools are among a series of sugges-
tions made to The Star Safety Council
by writer's in all parts of the city.
Many of the suggestions have been
repeated time and again by various
writer's. Eight specific suggestions
are made in a letter from James Hodg-
son, 2242 Chester street southeast.
They represent fair cIoss-section of
the type of suggestions made by many
writer's.
First" Mr.. Hodgson said, 81 think
there should be more one-way streets
in Washington. If every street in the
downtown area were one way it would
help lot. These streets should be
kept one way "a hours day and not
as they are now, only during rush
hours. Philadelphia is good ex-
ample of this.
Second, the traffic light change
should be synchronous. All east-west
trafic should move at the same time,
while all north-south traffic is stopped.
This should occur over the entire city
simultaneously. New York City is a
good example of this. The light should
stay green long enough for car
travelling at the legal rate of speed to
60 at least six to eight squares.
Handling a Car Important.
third, there is too much stress
placed on the number of miles per
hour a car Is travelling and not
enough notice taken as to how that
car Is handled. A driver may be ex-
tremely dangerous and yet never ex-
ceed the speed limit. Good driving Is
not as much the number of miles car
moves in a certain period of time as
it is the common sense of the driver
behind the wheel.
Fourth, pedestrian control. I be-
lieve that Traffic Director Van Duzer's
idea to fine the jaywalkers is good
one but should not be enforced until a
system Of pedestrian lights is installed.
Most Washington drivers entirely dis
regard the pedestrian when they want
to make a right or left turn. If the
red-amber or double-red light systems
were put into effect for long enough
time to allow the walker to get from
one curb to another, it would help a
lot. A very heavy fine should be
imposed on any driver who moves his
vehicle across an intersection during
the time the pedestrian light is on.
In other words, all motor traffic should
move at one time and all pedestrian
traffic at another.
Fifth, skaters should be made to
stay out of the streets and bicyclists
should be made to observe the traffic
rules the same as the motorists. Time
after time have seen bicyclists cross
the street and thread their way
through traffic when the light was
red.
Sixth. stricter supervision of chill
dren's play by parents. I have seen
chilren and years old playing in
the streets.
Safety Talks in Schools.
Seventh, teachers in schools should
be compelled to give short safety
talks to their pupils morning and
night. These talks need only take Is
10 80 seconds and might consist of
only one or two sentences, but it
should be brought to the children's
attention that there is need for their
utmost vigilance In crossing streets,
etc.
Eighth, each street should be
marked off in lanes and each lane
marked for through traffic, right or
left turns. A very heavy fine should
be levied on any one making a turn
from any lane other than the one
marked for that turn"
Brief excerpts from a few of the
many other letters received by The
Star Council follow:
II believe that the majority of
motorists and pedestrians are care
full. but through lack of strict enforce
ment, the offending minority has as
sumed an air Of indifference and has
no fear of penalty until too late.
"As cure I suggest that a gradu-
ated scale Of fines be made accord
ing to the size of the offense and that
driving permits be impounded on a
graduated scale. Names of Of
tenders to be published showing fines
and number of days they are de-
prived Of their driving permits. All
tnfractions to be listed on driving
permits and second offenders doubly
penalized and so on.
Owing to the fact that pedestrians
cannot cross the street as quickly
as machines, the showing of the
amber light should be heightened to
equal the time of the red and green.
FREDERICK F. SCHONDAU."
Some drivers never slow down at
street intersections. If every one
that drives car would have his car
under control at street intersections
there would be less accidents.
"T. E. HARTY."
"This safety drive, sponsored by you,