The times-news., 1938-12-14
IEV HIGHWAY
SAFETY PLANS
AREIN MAKING
uotoriists of Two Carclinas
EalIot on Measures
to This End

rVARLOTTE, Dec. 14.-With
.,.;5sn,S involving pedestrians
80 oI the most serious phases of
.,s traffic problem in both urban
= ,,rgl areas, the Carolina Mo-
~" m rr,5 has announced that the
,%n.riran Automobile association
'.ii> ~ make national awards for de-
''i,nmant -, of the most effective
sayS sT yf protecting and assuring
,Sa,er ~ convenience for the mil
E,ns in the daily march along
.,reets and highways.
In addition to awards to cities
.,at reduce pedestrian accidents
%,r;rg % 1889 and those that de-
Ion new means of meeting one
: me country'S "moSt crucial
,rs-Fi, conditions, the AAA will
.aEa separate awards to schools
~ school systems that do the best
.;ob in aiding youthful walkers. In
~. connection North and South
CaroI.na car owners are now bal
l,,;rg ON four motor vehicle meas
rrsS in a referendum conducted
~ the Carolina Motor club. one
Il which would provide walkwayS
along highways in the vicinity OF
Irboo!s and colleges.
The awards will undoubtedly
focus new attention on ways OF
safeguarding pedestrians" said
Coleman w. Roberts, president OF
tbs Carolina Motor club. "They
viii be made through a National
PEDESTRIAN Protection Contest. Its
effective is to stimulate ways OF
ssSuring the free and safe move
mant Of walkers with due regard
ior the rights of all who use the
streets and highways. Thus the
basis of the contest Is broader
.ban a safety effort because 1t
taxes into account conveniences
md methods for pedestrians con-
.rol as we'll as protection.
Launching of this UNIQUE trat-
ic contest comedies with the near
,ompletion of a comprehensive
study embodied in a Pedestrian
Aids Manual will offer the basis
ior constructive advances in pro-
.ecting pedestrians. The contest
i expected to stimulate new
thought hv those charged with the
-e<ponSibility for the safety OF
those who walk in the welter OF
traffic"
Although awards will be made
among five groups of cities classi-
led according to population. Caro-
Ina cities can participate IN only
four of the groups as the NTH Is
cnpetition between cities of lOO,T
40 to 100000 population. The
.ther groups are $4,000 to 1Op,-
90; 10000 to $4,000; and under
10000. Points will be credited to
ities that show low pedestrian IA
atty rates; reduction in rate; and
low ratio of pedestrian deaths
o total traffic fatalities.
Four fundamental points stand
ut in the AAA pedestrian study,
lr. Roberts said. First, the pedes-
rian is the most important traf-
ic unit in many districts of cit
es and pedestrians constitute the
major fatality toll in cities-from
up. Second, most cities
10 not know much about their
cry serious pedestrian problem.
Third, few cities are doing much
% improve pedestrian traffic con-
itions. Fourth, there is a very
eriouS lack of understanding or
of mutual rights and
responsibilities as between driv-
rs and pedestrians
The contest will continue thru
,ut the year 1889. Entry blanks
'or cities NAV be secured by writ
ag Carolina Motor club headquar-
erS al Charlotte or applying to
my Of the clubs 81 branch Of
ices in North and South Caro-
ina.
For many years the Carolina
Motor club has been active in ad-
;Ocating measures to more sharp
= define the rights and response
)ilic!eS of drivers and pedestrians