Evening star., 1939-01-21
Action Advances
Pedestrian
Control
Traffic Advisory
Council Urges Plan
On Commissioners
By G. ADAMS HOWARD.

BY G. ADAMS HOWARD.
Pedestrian control - pedestrian
protection, according to its newer in
terpretation-today was nearer final
enactment in the District of Colum-
bia, following Endorsement last night
by the Traffic Advisory Council of
a program requiring all walkers to
observe traffic signals and to refrain
from crossing any roadway between
intersections when an approaching
vehicle constitutes hazard.
Notice will be forwarded imme-
diately to the Commissioners, who
are understood to have awaited such
action before deciding whether to
put the law into effect. The cor
poration counsels Office has already
stated that legal enforcement of the
law would be at once possible at the
direction of the District heads.
A public hearing was held in the
District Building December 20, where
it was found that the majority of
the witnesses favored some pedes-
trian regulation. Following the hear
ing, the Commissioners postponed
their decision until the meeting of
the council.
The plan Endorsed last night held
out some new safeguards for pedes-
trianS and asked for rigid police
enforcement to protect their rights
at all intersections. 1t also called
Tor the installation of new pedes-
trian lights and better marked
crosswalks.
What Plan Provides.
The program in full Is as follows:
Cd Amend Section of the traffic
and motor vehicle regulations SO
that the section, as amended, will
read as follows:
mo pedestrian. equestrian. or
driver of any vehicle shall disobey
the instructions of any applicable
traffic sign or signal unless directed
to do so by police officer. Police
officers shall have full power to reg
ulate pedestrian, equestrian and We
hicular traffic"
CO Amend Section 6, Article III,
of the traffic and motor vehicle reg
ulations so that the section, as
amended, will read as follows
"At intersections where traffic is
controlled by traffic-control signals
or by police officers, drivers of vehi-
cles shall yield the right of way to
pedestrians crossing or those who
have started to cross the roadway
on a. green or go" signal, or sig
nal of a police officer"
Hazardous Crossings Outlawed.
80 Amend the traffic and motor
vehicle regulations under appropri-
ate article and section by adding the
following:
mo pedestrian shall use any road
way between intersections when
vehicle is approaching from either
direction so as to constitute haz-
ard for his own safety or use the
same at any time in negligent or
reckless manner. This section shall
not apply to pedestrians using cross
walks"
a. The Traffic Advisory Council
recommends that the provisions of
Section 6, Article III, as amended
above, be rigidly enforced, that
wherever practicable pedestrian
lights be installed, that the visibility
of traff1c-control lights be improved
by readjusting the visors now on
them and by relocating the traffic
lights at such places as they are not
easily visible to pedestrians facing
the crossing, and that the crosswalk
lines be extended and made clearer
where necessary
The following parking proposals
were Endorsed by the council:
Wisconsin avenue NW-That
parking be prohibited on the west
side, from the north building line
of 1914 north to P street, from
to $50 am. and that parking be
limited to one hour from $50 am.
to pm. instead of from 8 am.
to 8 pm. as at present.
Wisconsin avenue NW-No park
ing on the east side from the ramp
into the Giant Store (4555) south
to the first alley.
Euclid street NW-From Six
tenth street to Ontario road, no
parking on the south side at any
time.
Seventh street NW.-No parking
on the west side from market space
north for a distance of SIS feet.
Park road NW-From Georgia
avenue to Park place, no parking
on the south side at any time.
Harvard street N.W.-from Thir-
teenth to Sixteenth streets. Amend
so as to permit parking on Sundays
between 8 am. and / pm. when
traffic is comparatively light.
Connecticut avenue NW.-East
side, no parking between driveWays
in front of 4447 Connecticut avenue
parking lot.
Decatur place NW-From Flor
ida avenue to Massachusetts, ave-
nue., no parking on the north side
at any time.
Edmunds street N.W-From Wis
consin avenue to Massachusetts,
avenue, no parking on the south
side at any time, instead of the
north side as at present.
Fifth street NE-from V street
to Rhode Island avenue, no parking
on the east side at any time.
Fifth street N.E.-Under the
paragraph dealing with Fifth street
strike out the two clauses and in
sert in lieu thereof the following:
From F to K streets, no parking
on the west side at any time"
Whitney Leary, chairman of the
council. presided.