Evening star., 1937-01-02
Traffic and Pedestrian
Control i'm Other Cities

10 the EDITOR OF Tne star:
1t is interesting to observe to what
extent other cities have gone to make
their streets safe for both careful motor
ist and careful pedestrian, and to note
that these cities are making sincere
effort to reduce accidents caused gen.
orally by the careless operation OF an
automobile or the arrogant jaywalking
OF one or more Of its citizens.
For example:
Los Angeles has established pedestrian
control Jaywalker and careless pedes-
trian alike are handed summonSeS. Upon
appearance in City Court they are
severely reprimanded and fine is i'm
posed, with warning of sitter penalty
for second offenses. The ordinance for
bids motorists from running their cars
when the traffic light gives pedestrians
the signal to walk across the street. The
motorist Is not permitted to proceed on
the green light until the pedestrian
caught by the change of light has
reached the opposite curb.
In Des Moines the ordinance prohibit-
ing jaywalking has been very success
full. AS in Los Angeles, summonSes are
handed to violators, ordering them to
appear in Traffic Court, where the pro-
CcuuIc IL Qulte SlIIllldE.
Pontiac. Mich, not only forbids jay
walking and imposes fines for violations,
but also forbids right turns on red lights.
Both phases provide safety for all con-
cerned.
Evanston, ILL.,. plays no favorites. City
authorities enforce the traffic laws to the
letter without regard to political OF busi-
ness influences and pressure. Perhaps
that Is the reason that city has the
lowest auto accident rate in the country.
New York Citys new traffic code bans
right-hand hurns on red lights and a
new and inclusive Offense known as
dangerous driving" Is severely dealt
with, nuisance drivers being hailed to
court and fined heavily.
Biloxi, Miss, has an ordinance that
calls for regular reporting by all drivers
of automobiles and trucks to have brakes
tested.
Portland, Oreg, has 500 bounty on
reckless driving. Speeding there is
termed reckless" The ordinance also
provides the granting OF a 500 reward
to any citizen who furnishes infOrma-
ton which leads to the arrest and con-
viction of reckless driver. The city
also conducts school where this type
Of driver is taught safe driving methods
Chicago and Pittsburgh ordinances
deal we'll with drunken or intoxicated
drivers. Violations have been so preva-
lent in those cities that officials found
it necessary to invoke stiff penalties.
Both drunken or intoxicated drivers and
also reckless drivers are sentenced to
jail--nO bail or fine being acceptable
to the court.
Detroit is seriously considering invok-
ing an amendment to its present ordi-
nance, patterned after the Los Angeles
ordinance, on pedestrian control and
control OF motorists when pedestrians
are crossing the street or are caught
half way when the lights change. At
the present time about 2,600 Detroit
motorists with guilty consciences are
listed in 200 miMeographed books dis
tributed to police and scout car drivers
for special attention. Drivers who fail
to appear in court in response to mis-
demeanorS are picked up and taken
there Tor immediate action.
Toledo uses the short-wave radio
broadcast in successful effort to cut
down drunken and reckless driving &C
cidents. Upon receipt of calls from
persons reporting license plate numbers
OF automobiles whose drivers are under
influence of liquor the Toledo police
retail this information over the short
wave system to all scout cars and urge
them 10 be on the lookout for such
cars.
As one can Judge, favoritism is taboo
in most accident cases heard out of
town. Authorities in these municipali-
ties know from past experiences that
where favoritism has been shown GER
tain motor vehicle yiolators. the whole
of the enforcement structure is en-
dangered, and has in most instances
broken down as result. 1t is undue in
fluence that has discouraged many
policemen from making traffic arrests.
A little less favoritism and q little
more law enforcement would help the
ore-reluctant- -deal-with- traffic-vio-
lation city to regain its popularity with
its citizenry. FREDERIC G. FROST.