Evening star., 1938-11-01
Pedestrian Law
To Be Drawn for
Public Debate
Chance to Be Given
For Discussion Prior
To Hearing

Traffic Director William A. Van
Duzer today began preparation of a
definite pedestrian-control regula-
ton. to be used as the basis for dis
cussion at the special public hearing
to be held on the subject about the
middle of next month.
AS soon as the proposal is drawn
up, it will be made public and suff1-
cient time will be given to citizens
associations, traffic committees and
other interested groups and indivi-
duals to hold meetings and crystal
lie their views on the subject prior
to the special hearing.
This plan of procedure was
agreed on by municipal officials at
a special conference late yesterday
with Engineer Commissioner David
McCoach, jr., who made known that
the public hearing probably will not
be held until about mid December.
Attending the conference were Mr..
Van Duzer, Police Supt. Ernest w.
Brown, Corporation Counsel Elwood
H. Seal, Capt. H. C. Whitehurst,
highway director: Richmond B.
Keech, vice chairman of the Public
Utilities Commission, and Whitney
Leary, chairman of the Traffic ADJ
visory Council.
Meeting Set for Monday.
Meanwhile, the Executive Com
mittee of the Commissioners Safety
Advisory Committee met late yes
terday with Mr.. Van Duzer and
Maj. Brown and reaffirmed its stand
for some sort of pedestrian control.
A meeting of the full committee was
called for $3.50 pm. Monday at
the National Guard Armory to con-
slider the question.
The traffic safety group, formed
by the commissioners to suggest
means of cutting down traffic deaths.
included pedestrian control in it's
original recommendation. The sug-
gestion was the only one of a long
list not approved by the commits
sioners.
Brig Gen. Albert L. Cox, chair
man of the committee, said recon-
mendations probably will be made
to cut down on needless horn blow
ing and to increase the speed limit
from % to 25 miles an hour with
absolute enforcement.
Gen. Cox said rigid enforcement
of speed laws and anti-horn blow
ing regulations had cut down the
traffic fatalities in many progressive
cities. Judge John P. Mcmahon of
Police Court discussed speed law en-
forcement before the committee.
Col. McCoach, who took over ar
rangements for the public pedestrian
control hearing last week, due to the
illness of Commissioner Melvin C.
Hazen, told reporters that yesterday
conference was called primarily to
discuss the plan to be followed in
placing the question before the
public.
The cor1ferees decided that the
best plan would be to have Mr.. Van
Duzer study the question and pre-
pare a definite proposal which may
be used by civic groups in determin-
ing their stand on the question and
in deciding what form of pedestrian
control, if any, they will support.
Then the traffic directors propo-
sitlon will be placed before the pub
lie at the special hearing for dis
cussion. Col. McCoach said the
hearing probably Will not be held
until 80 or As days after the pro-
posed plan is made public.
Sentiment to Be Guide.
Col. McCoach expressed the belief
that, for the present, pedestrian
control plan will be considered only
for the main part of the city, prob
ably including the area below Flor
ida avenue-and arterial highways
in outlying sections. However, he
emphasized, whatever form of. pc
destrian control might be adopted
will depend largely on what public
sentiment develops dt the hearing
The Engineer Commissioner said
the conference yesterday was in
formed by Corporation Counsel Seal
that there are no legal obstacles
barring PRONUNCIATION and enforce
ment of a pedestrian control law.
Mr.. Seal outlined sections of the
District Traffic Act, as amended
|, dealing with its possible application
to pedestrians and the power of reg
ulation and discussed decisions by
Judge Mcmahon and the late Justice
Josiah Van Orsdel of the District
Court of Appeals in legal principles
involved in pedestrian control.
Col McCoach, who recently In
dorsed adoption of some form OF
pedestrian control "in principle,
.. re-emphasized his belief that such
law could not be enforced with
out 80 or 95 per cent corporation
from the public.