Evening star., 1939-03-10
Wants Right Turns
Made Single File
List Of Rules Suggested p
For Both Drivers and
Pedestriuns
TO the Editor Of The Star:


Pedestrians
TO the Editor Of The Star:
Apropos of the agitation for more
careful driving, pedestrian control, etc.,
on which subject several excellent letters
have appeared in your columns, may I
call attention to the very dangerous
practice of making right-hand turns
two abreast. have noticed this situa-
ton particularly at Seventeenth and H
streets and Seventeenth and Pennsyl-
vania avenue. Frequently, when cross
ing on green light, a single line If
right-hand turner's has forced me to
wait near the middle of the street, when
suddenly an impatient driver makes an
other line and bears down on me abreast.
making me retreat still farther into the
center of the street. There should ,e
regulation against such turns, If there
is not already one
Another bad driving habit is exhibited
daily at light-controlled corners, where
too many drivers will step on the gas
instead of the brake when the green
and amber lights show Cunless an officer
is Watching). I have seen them a quar-
ter OF a block away race for the corner
and perhaps cross on the red, or block
the crossWalk, because their speed was
too great for quick stop at the last
minute. I can't believe that they are
so stupid as not to know what the amber
light means. So what's all the hurry?
Let's all slow down a bit, for accidents
go hand in hand with speed. We have
regulations designed to limit the peril
OF the streets, but we also have chiselers,
both riding and walking, who don't play
fair and abide by the rules of the game
always trying to get by" with some-
thing.
think all will agree that rules for
proper traffic conduct, both for motor
lists and pedestrians, are necessary for
safety, and, of course, rules should be
more strict for the motorist, for he is
armed with deadly weapon while the
pedestrian is not. But rules are no good
II not observed or enforced and there's
the rub. Let's spend some of our tax
money on real safety-put more police
men on the streets df the boys on the
Hill can be convinced Of the need. Let
them stand at bad traffic corners and
see what difference 1t makes. To me
it is laughable to observe how careful
and courteous some motorists become,
especially as regards pedestrian rights,
when uniform is in sight However,
II we are not allowed by Congress to
spend our own money for more police
protection. then the best suggestion that
has been made is to- have an interval for
stoppage Of all traffic so pedestrians NAV
cross in any direction without hazard
from turns. What's the difference If
trafhc is slowed down bit for safetys
sake?
But strict enforcement, with enough
men to DO the Job, is the only real way
to comparative safety. It seems that
some individuals just can't be trusted
to do the right thing; and educational
campaigns are waste of effort. What
we need to do to correct abuses is to
make the penalty really hurt-hurt the
pocketbook, the pride, or the conven-
1ence, OF the lawbreaker. Stiff fines. tail
sentences, and revocation of driving per-
mlts is the answer-and bear down hard.
For remember, the careless, unskillful,
or lnconsiderate driver is a potential
killer, even though he doesn't mean to be.
And one other thing that seems to be
overlooked, particularly in view of our
new speed limit (Which I think should
have been lowered and not raised)-the
speed OF the motor car has increased
many fold, while that of the pedestrian
has not So far as speed is concerned.
he is still in the horse and buggy age,
and can do nothing about it. Kindly
make note of this, Mr.. Motorist. The
manufacturer, from year to year. has
made vast Improvements in the perform
ance OF the motor car, but the perform
ance OF the driver has not kept pace
and still leaves much to be desired
Finally, let me say that while I am a
pedestrian, I have driven of and on for
20 years and can see both sides of the
trafhc question. I certainly cannot
praise the walking habits of pedestrians
generally, for I have never seen such
utter disregar1 for fair play, and SEEM
ing indifference to personal safety, as is
displayed on our streets today No doubt
the jay driver is responsible for SOME
bad walking habits, but many of our
JayWalkers just ask to be hit-and that's
the only safety lesson they will under
stand. I hope, with the new regulations
now in force, some of our sleep-walkers
will change their habits and wake up,
at least at crossings.
Here are some suggestions for pedes-
trians that may be worth thin,sin about:
!. Every crossing is a hazard. Ap-
proach it alertly and dons wander along
in daZe.
z. Always observe the lights first, to
see If they az. in your favor: then
watch the cars
8. Never imagine you are in such q
hurry that YOU can't wal. for the greer
light. 1mpatience may land you in the
morgue.
4. Remember that even a green light
doesn't guarantee a safe crossing (al-
though it should, so keep your eyes
peeled for right and left turner's who are
supposed to give you right OF way, but
often don't.
5. Be suspicious of every driver-there
are lots Of sane ones w1lc drive right;
and there arA otLarc r,ho do r,t Nv