Milford chronicle., 1942-07-10
Pedestrians Killed
Are Seldom Autoists
CONTINUED from First pagel

In discussing the drivers re-
sponsibility toward pedestrians, the
manual points out that while some
times the pedestrian may do
thoughtless or foolish things, the
car should be under control at all
times so as to be able to avoid hit
ting pedestrians. 1t states the mo-
torist's responsibility is greater
than that of the pedestrian, because
a motor car with its greater weight,
speed an ddestructiveness may kill
or cripple anyone it hits.
Pedestrians are urged to remem-
Der that: Traffic control signals
govern pedestrians as well as We
hicular traffic; where traffic control
signals are not in operation, the
pedestrian i, has the right-of-way
only within a crosswalk and on
half the roadway on which, or
close to which, he is walking; no
pedestrian, whether at marked
crosswalk or elsewhere, should
suddenly leave a curb or other
place of safety and run in the path
of vehicle which is so close that
1t is impossible for the driver to
stop; pedestrians crossing the road
way at places other than cross
walks or intersections or marked
crosswalks elsewhere, must yield
the right-of-way to all vehicles
upon the roadway; and standing in
a roadway to beg ride from
driven. 10 unla wflll
Pointing to the importance of
being a good driver, the manual
states that operating an automobile
is a privilege. 1.-THE good driver
knows his car" the manual says.
"He keeps his steering mechanism
tight, his wheels in alignment and
his tires properly inflated. His
brakes are adjusted and refined
when necessary, his lights are in
good order, his windshield wiper
and horn work we'll, and his wind
shield and windows are very clean.
"The safe motorist adjusts his
driving to conditions. On crowded
streets or highways, in rainy or
snowy weather, and on slippery
roads, he is more alert and drives
more slowly"
An interesting fact in the book
let, with which perhaps many per-
sons are unfamiliar, is that even |
the shape and color of traffic signs
have a meaning, so that if the let
tering cannot be read because of
darkness or fading. the driver can
still tell what to do.
There are three kinds of signs:
regulatory, warning and guide.
The regulatory signs regulate
traffic by telling what must or must
not be done at that place. The eight
sided yellow sign means to step.
The white upright oblong sign, u.s.
ually with black letters, tells of To-
cal rules (such as no left turn),
gives the speed limit, tells when to
drive to the right, etc. If the signs
have red lettering, they usually tell
where not to park at any given
time. Green letters invariably tell
how long one may park or how one
should park.
Warning signs, showing where
one should look out for something
and to slow down, are of three
kinds: railroad warning, slow and
caution signs. Slow signs mean
something is ahead for which slow
driving, is necessary, while caution
signs indicate to look out for some
thing which some times may be
ahead and for which the driver may
have to slow or stop.
A round yellow sign means there
is railroad crossing ahead. A dia-
mond-shaped yellow sign means
there is something ahead for which
10 slow down. A square yellow sign
to watch for something
ahead.
Guide signs have various shapes
and tell what road the driver is
following and where the roads go.
The manual, with its more than
so pages, is replete with sound ad-
vice. all for the benefit of safety.
The examination for a license
consists of four parts: the road
sign test, the eye test, the road
rules test and the driving demon
stration.
1t is disclosed in the manual that
Of 805,320 persons injured in one
year, 235,700 resulted from demand
ing right of way, while out of 22,110
killed, $500 were attributed to ex-
cessive speed.
Manners of parking and some
'DON'TS" on parking are contain
ed in the booklet. as we'll as rules
for sharing the roads with others.
The question of "right-of- way" is
thoroughly discussed and some i'm
portant don is" on driving are in
cluded.
While the manual is primarily for
new drivers, it is just as instructive
for experienced drivers who may
obtain them by requesting them,
at the offices of the Mo-
tor Vehicle Division of the State
Department in Whining
ton, Dover or Georgetown.