Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-10

Evidently great many people do not
know how to walk along a country road.
Instead Of keeping on the left hand,
facing traf11c, they insist on pursuing the
dangerous course, with their back to cars
OH their side.
They walk on the wrong side OF the
road in other words.
Parents, in particular, and certainly
school teachers, ought to include in
struction as to how best to walk along
a road which has no sidewalks.
In the suburban districts, in particular,
there are many roads along which chill
dren must come home from school.
It is common thing to see them walk
ing along the right side, while going
north, when they ought to be on the left,
facing the down traffic coming south.
And vice versa.
This simple method puts the car COM
ing behind you at the far side of the
road. leaving the approaching car, which
will be nearest to you, in passing, in the
best position to be seen and avoided.
Many such roads are of macadam, with
concrete shoulders, and it is along the
latter that most persons walk, using them
as sidewalks.
To walk on the right side OF the road,
going north, let us say, or on the right
side while walking south, means that
one must put too much trust in the other
fellow.
1t is unfortunately necessary in modern
high-powered civilizations not to put too
much trust in others.
This is partly due to the fact that there
are so many persons in the world, most
of whom are strangers to most OF us. The
list of friends of any one is ridiculously
small in comparison with the total num-
Der of possible friends.
The real reason, however, for not put
ting too much trust in others is simply
that some of their machines make them
untrustworthy, due to speed, power and
SO on. They can handle them, all right,
no doubt of that. but only when things
are going right. Let the unexpected hap
pen, there is not enough time in which
to handle them, perhaps.
1t is this time element which makes
the modern so dangerous, when he is a
stranger to us. He tends to forget that
he is in charge Of a machine which is
really beyond his comprehension in GER
tain aspects. The fact that he handles
it does not mean that he understands it..
n y y y
Hence the type of careless walking
often seen on the sort of roads described
is dangerous beyond words. because it
does not take into account the dire pos
sbilities of mistakes. with scarce enough
time to right them before harm is done.
1t will be good thing, therefore, for
all pedestrians, including those persons
who walk for pleasure, to keep in mind
the fact that just as many OF the most
serious collisions happen on country
roads. so there is much danger to be en-
countered by the walker on such roads.
In the city many, and sometimes too
many, rules and regulations are laid
down. but all in all they do serve to make
people think continuously Of the pos
sibility OF hitting some one or of being
struck.
Red lights mean danger as well as
stop.
Out on the roads there are no red
lights, nothing but few signs. most of
which are not minded. if one may judge
by the frequency with which motorists
run at 40 miles per hour when the sign
says Is.
The person who walks this way takes
his life in his own hands, as the pic
turesque old saying put it.
Picture the pedestrian carefully hold
ing his own life in his own hands.