Evening star., 1938-12-05

mHte puOtlc sentiment on the
question. Although present trat-
nc ldU provides poUer for
The Commissioners to regulate
pedestrians, District has failed to
promulgate jay-walking rules,
largely because of the conten-
tion by some that rules ,oould
De unentorceable WITHOUT LARGE
increase in police force.
BY JOHN H. Cassidy, Jr.
The Commissioners today drew up
two proposals for pedestrian control
regulation for the District for con-
slderation by the public and set De-
cember 20 as the date for a special
public hearing on the suggested
adoption of pedestrian control here.
After a conference with Traffic
Director William A. Van Duzer, his
assistant, M. o. Eldridge, and Cor
poration Counsel Elwood H. Seal,
Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen an
nounced that. for purposes of dis
cussion at the hearing. the follow
ing two proposals will be offered:
l. Regulation of pedestrians cross
ing In the middle of the block.
2. Regulation of pedestrians cross
ing at intersections. whether or not
the intersection is controlled by
traffic lights or officers.
To Draw Up Regulations.
Mr.. Eldridge and Assistant Cor
poration Counsel E. W. Thomas
then were assigned the task of draw
ing up the proposed regulations for
formal presentation at the hearing.
This was to be done this afternoon.
The Commissioners will send
copies OF the proposals to civic and
business organizations of Washing
ton. inviting them to study the pro-
posals and to send representatives
to the public hearing.
The hearing will be held In the
board room of the District building
at 10 am.
The Commissioners emphasized
that they were not approving any
proposed regulations for pedestrian
control at this time, but were mere
ly presenting two ideas for the pub
lie to consider before and during the
hearing
Amplify Present Law.
1t was explained that the two pro-
posed regulations are amplifications
OF existing law, which now provide
for pedestrian regulation. In THEN
final form. the proposed pedestrian
control regulations will describe the
duties OF pedestrians at intersections
and IN the middle of the block. The
commissioners explained further
that. if adopted. the regulations
would have the effect of making it
unlawful for person to cross in the
middle OF a block or at an inter-
section against a traffic light or
against the signal of traffic officer.
Mr.. Van Duzer gave the Commits
sloners lengthy report on methods
used by other large cities in con-
trolling jay-walking. He also furnish-
ed information on the pedestrian
fatality record in the District, point
ing out that 55.5 per cent of the
accidents involving pedestrians in
the past three years have occurred
In the middle of the block.
Charts Are Presented.
He presented charts showing
analyses of 207 pedestrian fatalities
which occurred between January l.
! 1886, and october 81, 1898, and a
map showing locations of pedestrian
fatalities in various parts of the city
and indicating where pedestrians
were crossing the streets. Another
chart showed a digest of replies to
missionaries on pedestrian regula-
tion by Sc cities having population
of more than 100000.
He said 16 of these cities had no
pedestrian regulations. while in l8
others pedestrians are required to
obey the signals of the traffic officer.
In % of the Sc cities pedestrians
must obey traffic signals and in 10
cities pedestrians are required to
cross at intersections where ad-
jacent intersections are signaled.
| Nine cities have regulations requir-
| ing persons on foot to cross only
at crosswalks. In five cities pedes-
trians must cross only at crosswalks
in the business district and in one
city pedestrians must cross at
marked crosswalks on through"
streets only.
Referring to the proposed control
of pedestrians crossing in the mid
die of the block, Commissioner
HaZen said:
This practice of crossing be-
tween intersections seems to be the
real problem in accidents involving
pedestrians in Washington. The
statistics show that more than half
of the pedestrian accidents ocur
in the middle of the block"
States Laws Cited.
Mr.. Van Duzer reported that the
laws of 10 States contained no
provision concerning the rights and
duties of the pedestrian on high
ways, leaving him subject only to
his common law obligation to exer-
else due care. These States are
Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky,
Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ne
vada, Oklahoma and Wyoming.
In the majority of States, how
ever, some laws concerning pedes-
trians are found, he pointed out.
In 20 States, the pedestrian is re-
quired by statute to obey traffic
control signals at intersections. In
n States pedestrian crossing at a
marked or unmarked cross walk at
intersections where such signals are
not in operation has the right of way
over vehicles
Where traffic control signals are
in operation at adjacent intersec-
tons. 1t is unlawful for pedestrians
in 20 States to cross the Roadway
between intersections.
In 81 States, the pedestrian may
cross the road at any place where
such signals are not in operation
at adjacent intersections, but must
yield the righi Of way to all vehicles.