Evening star., 1938-12-06
Officials Draft
z Pedestrian
Control Plans
SeoI Expected to
Get Proposals
Today

Two proposed forms of pedestrian
control regulation were being drafted
into final form today as municipal
officials pushed their preparations
for an extraordinary public hearing
on a jaywalking ban, to be held
Thursday, December 20.
Assistant Corporation Counsel
E. w. Thomas and M. o. Eldridge,
assistant traffic director, who were
assigned the job of writing the sug-
gested regulations, said they ex-
pected to complete the proposals
and turn them over to Corporation
Counsel Elwood H. Seal today.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Melvin
C. Hazen indicated that whether
the District ultimately decides to
promulgate pedestrian control regu-
lations will depend largely on the
expressed sentiment Of the public
at the special hearing.
THE Commissioners will be guided
in their final decision chiefly by the
reaction of the public to our two
suggested pedestrian regulations"
Mr.. Haz6h said. IF the residents
of Washington indicate that they
would cooperate with and support
such laws, we will make every effort
to adopt and enforce pedestrian con-
troll"
Definitions to Be Included.
The proposed regulations, which
the Commissioners drew up yester-
day for consideration by the public
before and during the hearing, would
provide for control of pedestrians
crossing in the middle of the block
and at intersections, whether or not
the intersection is controlled by
traffic lights or officers.
After conferring with Mr.. Eldridge
late yesterday, Assistant Corporation
Counsel Thomas said that in draft
ing the suggested pedestrian con-
troll plans, he would include def1ni-
ton of pedestrian and definition
of crosswalks. He explained that
the latter definition would be neces-
sary in the proposed new regulation
since the present traffic law refers
only to crosswalks marked by white
lines.
The suggested new law relating
to pedestrians crossing at intersec-
tions would apply to all intersections
throughout the city. many of which
do not have marked crossWalks, he
said. While the two proposed regu-
lations are regarded as ampliflca-
tions of existing laws, which now
provide for pedestrian regulation,
Mr.. Thomas said he would include
in his drafts a clear definition of
the rights and duties Of the pedes-
trian.
Copies of the proposals will be
sent to civic and business groups,
automobile clubs and other organi-
cations interested in the question
prior to the public hearing, the Com
missioners said This is being done
so the organizations can have time
to study the suggested possible forms
of pedestrian control before sending
their representatives to the hearing.
Analysis Presented.
The date for the hearing was set
by the Commissioners at confer
ence yesterday with Traffic Director
William A. Van Duzer, Police Supt.
Ernest w. Brown, Capt. H. c. White
hurst, Mr.. Seal and Mr.. Eldridge.
The hearing will be held at 10 am.
in the board room of the District
Building.
Mr.. Van Duzer, who for several
weeks has been making study OF
pedestrian fatalities and methods of
pedestrian control employed by other
cities, placed before the conference
an analysis of the 207 pedestrian
deaths which occurred in the Dis
trict between January I, 1896, and
October 81, 1898.
His chart showed that in 158 of
the pedestrian deaths, or 1853 per
cent, the pedestrian was held to
have been at fault, while in the other
40 cases the automobile or street
car operator involved was at fault.
OF those killed, ITO were adults and
81 children. Automobiles accounted
for 87.5 per cent of the fatalities
and street cars were involved in the
other 12.5 per cent.
His figures revealed further that
in lis, or 55.5 per cent of the cases,
the pedestrian was struck while
crossing in the roadway between in
tersections.
Twenty-Five, or 12.1 per cent, were
crossing at an intersection, but not
in the crosswalk. Eighteen were
crossing against red light. Thirty
nine were crossing properly at
crosswalk where there we're no sig
mails. Seven were standing on the
sidewalk or in a safety zone and
three were crossing properly on
green signal.
ANAlNSl@ az POT