Evening star. [volume], January 20, 1929, Page 7, Image 61

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
WHALEN Will ASK
JAY WALKING LAW
New York Believes Time Is
Ripe to Adopt Pedestrian
Ordinance.
BY JOHN WA'KER HARRINGTON.
Out of the new plan of traffic regu
lation announced last week by Police
Commissioner Grover A. Whalen of
New York will be evolved rules for the
stricter control of pedestrian traffic—
the suppression of the gaping jaywalker.
At a traffic conference in Washington
only a few days ago Ernest P. Goodrich,
an engineer, said that, in many respects
the regulation of traffic was less devel
oped in New York than in many other
cities, especially the movements of the
walking public.
There is. for instance, no ordinance
tinder which a citizen can be punished
for crossing thorougfares in the middle
of blocks or risking his life by plunging
Into a stream of moving .vehicles.
“Beating the lights” Ls one of the fa
vorite amusements of New Yorkers.
It is now believed that the time is
ripe for putting footfarers under an
ordinance for their own protection. After
a conference with Chief Magistrate
William MeAdoo last Tuesday night
Mr. Whalen decided to ask the Mu
nicipal Assembly to enact such a meas
ure. which will be drafted by the mag
istrate himself.
Balk at Ordinance.
There have been several efforts to
pass an anti-jaywalking ordinance with
teeth in it, but so far both the City
legislature and the police have hesi
tated to sponsor it, because they felt
that the time was not ripe. Mayor
Walker, at the recent dedication of
York avenue, when a new traffic signal
system was put into commission, said
he hoped lights w’ould be sufficient to
regulate pedestrian traffic without re
course of drastic penalties
The reasons for New York not deal
ing summarily with the jaywalker as
some other large municipalities do are
not “political.” as some critics say.
They spring from the elements of her
traffic problem itself—a problem differ
ent from that in any other community
in'this country. The peculiar shape of
Manhattan Island, where there is the
greatest congestion, and the diverse na
ture of the population make pedestrian
control unusually difficult.
As Commissioner Whalen very frankly
aaid last week, there have been certain
weak points in the existing rules which
have prevented as strict a control of
the footfarers in practice as would
seem possible in theory. The first thing
to do before the enactment of new
legislation is to make it physically
possible for the pedestrian to have an
even break with the vehicular traffic,
Life-Saving Is First.
The prime object of an anti-jaywalk
ing ordinance is to keep the people
from being killed or injured; the re
lief of traffic congestion is important,
yet secondary to life-saving.
"There are three elements in any
effective system of pedestrian control."
said Julien H. Harvey, resident man
ager of the National Safety Council,
yesterday. “They are engineering, edu
cation and enforcement. These may be
compared to the three sides of an equi
iateral triangle—they are of equal im
portance.
• “It stands to reason, however, that it
la not fair to the public to expect it to
comply with regulations without mak
ing it possible for them to obey them
without great hardship. The cities
which have done the best in the safe
handling of foot traffic are those which
have first overcome the physical difficul
ties, which, as I understand it, the po
lice commission here is now endeavoring
to do,
“If the pedestrian feels that motor
traffic has the preference over him, and
that a little common sense would make
things equal, if applied, he is likely to
be defiant and to take risks. Having
provided a place where pedestrians can
cross without waiting an unreasonably
long time, a city can then proceed with
a campaign of education.
Felice and Citizens Co-operate.
“In some cities this has been done in
a perfectly good-natured way, and new
regulations have been put into practice
by the friendly co-operation of police
and public.
“After all excuses for the violation of
anti-jaywaiking rules have been nulli
fied by engineering skill, the majority
of a population can be soon induced to
observe the signals and the rules after
a little instruction and publicity.
< “Rigid enforcement may then be ap
plied to bring into line those persons
who are careless, unruly or stubborn.
Only a few fines and penalities seem to
be necessary, however, in communities
where the other two elements of the
problem have been attended to by the
authorities.”
One of the most serious drawbacks of
the present system of traffic control in
New York City, so far as the pedestrian
is concerned. Is the left turn motorists
are permitted to make. The automo
billst, for that matter, can turn either
to the right or left in traffic, in manv
sections of this city. In the scheme of
things traffic halts when a red light is
shown, and goes forward when the
green appears.
Cut Off Pedestrians.
Pedestrians are then supposed to
have the chance to cross safely to the
other side between the walls of the
parted Red Sea of automobiles. But
do they have it? They certainly do not.
Currents of traffic in many places set in
from the right and left, cut off the
stream of pedestrians at the will of
drivers and make them scamper in all
directions. Automobiles are not only
crossing the cleared street at right
angles, but they are edging in on ;he
foot passenger from the right and left,
giving him only a grudging leave to
exist.
In the traffic plan Mr. Whalen will
put into effect in the congested theater
district these turns will be abolished.
In one-way streets especially, as the
commissioner said to this writer, it is
very hard for the walkers to find any
chance to cross the thoroughfares on
account of the turns.
Therefore in the tests now to be
made extra policemen will be stationed
at corners who will see that there is.
free passage for pedestrians. Moreover*
10 feet back from the curb, on the side
walks. there will be details of police,
who w'lll see to it that the public crosses
qutcklv when the way Is open and .hat
no citizens loiter on the corners and
thus obstruct the stream of those who
wish to pass
Cwiain cities have greatly lessened
congestion by abolishing the left turn,
adopting this provision from “the
model municipal traffic ordinance."
drafted by a committee of traffic ex
perts under the direction of the Na
tional Conference on Street and High
way Safety.
Uniformity Is Sought.
The purpose of this document is to
make the regulations of all cities uni
form. so than motorists traveling long
distances will not be inconvenienced or
embarrassed by varying traffic rules as
they pass from city to city.
Only a few days since the committee
on street traffic of the Merchants’ As
sociation of New York, which has been
making a study of *he congestion situa
tion here, annoui.-ed it was in favor of
ail the provisions of the model ordi
nance except those requiring the con
trol of pedestrians and the elimination
' of left turns when red lights were
showing.
“The police officials,” the report
reads, “are convinced that, while the
public in this city is less hostile to
pedestrian control than formerly, it has
not as yet reached the point where it
lould give sufficient co-operation to
Virginia Town Gets
Big Thrill on Seeing
Its First Automobile
FREELING, Va. (A»).—Cutter Creek,
isolated Virginia-Kentucky border set
tlement, has seen its first automobile.
Carter McFall drove the car, attracting
great attention in the hamlet.
GIVING HIKERS LIFT
DANGEROUS AT BORDER
Warning Is Issued to Motorists
After Driver Is Fined on
Liquor Charge.
Picking up roadside “thumbers" is a
dangerous practice in any part of the
country, but it is liable to cause more
than usual grief at an International bor
der. according to the American Auto
mobile Association, which has just been
successful in having the Government
remit a SIOO fine to a car owner.
The national motoring body says that
a Massachusetts motorist saw no harm
in giving a lift to two youngsters near
the Canadian border, but after allow
ing them to alight, a customs officer
witnessed the incident and investigated.
Moreover, a pint of ale was found on
one of the “hitch hikers ” The upshot
of the affair was that the car owner
was immediately penalized to the extent
of SIOO for discharging a passenger
with liquor before reporting at the first
United States customs office.
Acting in his behalf and supported
by affidavits, the American Automobile
Association interceded in behalf of the
innocent motorist, and Government red
tape w'as unwound to allow a refund.
The A. A. A. says, however, that the
incident has/dealt a body blow to hitch
hiking in that vicinity and should serve
as a national warning.
make possible the enforcement of this
form of control with the men which our
department could reasonably devote to
it.”
The views of the police department,
are those of the previous regime, not
those of Mr. Whalen, as these confer
ences were held before the New’ Year.
It appears on the face of things that
the left turn is one of the engineering
reasons, “an exceptional local condi
tion.” which have weighed against the
whole-souled co-operation of the gen
eral public.
Although the motorists of New York,
as a class, give the pedestrians a fair
opportunity to get across when the red
light shows, some are inclined to rush
on before the green light appears.
There is an interval or dark period of
five seconds between the two signals,
but sometimes this is disregarded.
Pedestrians are caught in midcourse
and are often marooned between two
streams of traffic in the middle of the
street, where they are likely to be side
swiped in both directions. Sometimes
the "Go” signal is flashed while there
are walkers still on the crossing. Oc
casionally an unwary citizen is badly
bumped or thrown to the ground by a
collision with automobile fenders.
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THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., JANUARY 20. 1320—PART 4
RULES FOR SUCCESS
IN DRIVING LISTED
Care in Watching Safety and
Knowing Machine
Are Cited.
BY H. CLIFFORD BROKAW.
Automobile Technical Adviser.
It would seem like carrying coals to
New'castle for one to discuss the matter
of learning to drive an automobile.
With a car in almost every family and
many people about who do not own
automobiles but can operate one. it
would be easy to conclude that prac
tically everybody can now drive a car.
However, it is asserted that during
every 24 hours in the United States
about 6,000 adolescent young people de
velop Into maturity. Back of them is
a vast army of children growing Into
adolescence.
And that is not all. There are thou
sands of adults who never have learned
to drive an automobile who will buy
ears In 1929 and must learn to operate
them. There are also thousands of
people who now own cars and are ac
tually using them on crowded highways
who are far from being good drivers.
Because a person has passed a test and
secured a driver’s license does not
necessarily mean he or she is a com
petent driver. There is need of more
information on this matter of efficiently
operating a motor vehicle.
Drinks Cost License.
It appears that more automobile
licenses in New York State are
revoked because of driving when in
toxicated than for any other reason.
Other practices which get motorists
into trouble are reckless driving, speed
ing, inability to read signs, using the
wrohg plates and driving by immature
youths. Practices related to these items
constitute a primary consideration for
automobile drivers and are to be
avoided. There are numerous generally
recognized qualifications for a com
petent driver. It is difficult to say that
one is more important than the other.
Some would maintain that the first
requisite to be listed is that of a gen
eral knowledge of the automobile as a
mechanical product. Certainly a per
son must know a good deal about the
automobile as a machine. This infor
mation can be secured to some extent
by study, but can best be obtained by
receiving instruction, either private or
at a good school, in elementary auto
mobile mechanics.
To be a competent driver, one must
learn how to drive in addition to know
ing the machine. It is difficult to learn
how to operate an automobile by read
ing in a book. It is much better to
receive personal instruction from some
one who knows how to drive. This
instruction is usually given by some
friend or neighbor or possibly by the
concern selling the automobile. It is
suggested by some that a better way
than this. even, is to go to some rec
ognized automobile school and take
driving lessons.
Concentration Important.
In the early stages of driving a car
it is very important that the driver be
able to concentrate his faculties on his
manipulation of the car. Later he may
be able to do a good many things about
driving an automobile automatically.
He probably would never get to the
point, however, when he can be com
pletely oblivious to the fact that he
Ls the responsible director of the ma
chine’s destiny. Taxicab drivers with
a vast amount of experience seem to
drive almost automatically. Not many
drivers attain such an accomplishment.
The driver of a car must have plenty
of confidence in himself and especially
in his ability to meet situations effec
tively as they may arise. This, in turn,
means that the driver must be quick at
making up his mind. The automobile
driver is frequently getting into situa
tions which require rapid calculations.
At such times the only way accidents
can be avoided is for rapid calculations
to be made and acted upon wisely.
A first-class driver will be able to
judge the speed of his car, first, in re
lation to the highway over which he is
moving and, second, in relation to the
speed of automobiles coming and going.
Those who have this sense of speed
are able to apply brakes in an
emergency in plenty of time to avoid
disaster. It will be seen from the
points already suggested that steady
nerves constitute one of the require
ments of a competent driver.
Safety and Success.
The successful driver must be a safe
driver. He must have an honest de
sire in his heart to protect the lives of
others as far as it is possible for him
to do so through the use of caution
in his procedure. Something about the
rules of the road should be known by
the operator of an automobile. He
should be able to so direct the machine
along the highway that the other oc
cupants of the vehicle, as well as him
self, will proceed in as much comfort
as possible.
It 1s especially difficult to drive an
automobile at dusk. It seems to be a
period following sunset when the road
is less easily distinguished than during
either the daytime or later at night.
At this twilight time the darkness is
not sufficient to make the car’s lights
effective.
The best drivers will insure them
selves against skidding dangers by
using chains when necessary and by
using extra caution when proceeding
along wet streets without chains. The
safe driver will know how to drive
backward, in addition to frontward,
and how to turn around in a com
paratively small space and how to park
at the curb. The successful driver also
will see to It that his automobile is kept
in first-class condition, so that it will
respond most effectively to his driving
technique. The principal factor in
efficient driving is really a point of view
which sees to it that courteous con
sideration is given to both motorists
and pedestrians along the highway.
(Copyright, 1929.)
People used to live without trains,
doctors, telephones, electric lights or
automobiles. Who says they are lux
uries today?
AIM TO LIFT FULL
CROSSING BLAME
Motorist Taking Complete
Responsibility at Rail Tracks
Declared Unfair.
Legislation designed to lift from the
motorist the full responsibility for grade
crossing accidents, which he has been
held to assume under the United States
Supreme Court’s interpretation of the
law r , is now being sought by the present
Congress, according to announcement
of the legal department of the Ameri
can Motorists’ Association.
Bills have already been introduced in
the Senate and House by Senator C. C.
Dill of Washington and Representative
Frank Murphy of Ohio which have as
their object the changing of the present
law’, under which a motorist must not
only stop, look and listen at a blind
crossing, but must, if necessary, get out
of his car and make certain a train is
not approaching. The two measures
differ in minor respects, but the authors
are willing to make such changes as
may be necessary to facilitate action.
Measures Declared Important.
These tw’o measures, of the utmost
importance to every motorist in the
United States, are now before the judi
ciary committees of the Senate and
House, and the authors have been un
able to obtain committee action because
motorists have not displayed an interest
in them.
The association has urged its mem
bers to get behind the two bills, in the
hope that the law may be changed at
the earliest possible date.
“Motorists perhaps do not fully ap
preciate the necessity for a change in
the present law,” Thomas J. Keefe, gen
eral manager of the association, de
clared. “The effect of the Supreme
Court’s decision places the entire bur
den of care on a motorist who is com
pelled to crass the track, and his failure
to exercise the proper degree of care
bars any recovery fftr damages against
the railroad company. The Supreme
Court in the Goodman (Ohio) case held
that if a motorist could not get a clear
view’ of the track at a railroad crossing
it was incumbent upon him to stop his
automobile, alight pnd go over on the
track to make certain that a train was
hot approaching.”
AH Danger Not Removed.’
Authors of the tw'o bills now pending
point out that in many instances where
the crossing is at a curve a motorist
might even take this extreme precau
tion and still be killed by a tram, the
train approaching between the time he
had looked for same and getting back
in his automobile and started across the
track.
“Railroads, excused from legal liabil
ity in such cases.” Mr. Keefe explains,
“may become less willing to abolish
grade crossings in the future. The as
sociation holds no brief for a careless
Baltimore Council
Rewards 600 Truck
Drivers for Safety
Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE;. January 19.—Approxi
mately 600 truck drivers of Baltimore
received safe drivers’ certificates this
week at a meeting of the commercial
vehicles committee of the Baltimore
Safety Council and representatives of
concerns owning trucks that have had
no accidents for the last six months.
Twenty-seven concerns of the 75
companies entered in the interfleet
safety contest, conducted by the safety
bureau, had no accidents of any kind
from July 1 to December 31. These
companies received certificates of award.
The 27 firms employ about 100 drivers.
CITIES FAIL TO BUILD
AUTO ROAD MARKERS
Tourists Complain of Confusion
Caused in Finding Way Through
Larger Congested Areas.
“Why aren’t the standard route
markers of the United States Highway
System more generally erected in cities
through which the routes pass?” a
cross-continent motorist recently asked
the Bureau of Public Roads of the
United States Department of Agricul
ture. “I started from the western coast
last Summer over one of the United
States routes and had no trouble in
following the road across the country,”
he explained, “except when it crossed
the larger cities. There were no mark
ers to indicate when I was on the route
or when I was off it. It is through the
cities that we motorists are most likely
to get off the route, especially at five
point intersections,” he asserted.
Officials of the bureau explained that
the route markers in the various States
w'ere erected by the State highway de
partments only upon the highways un
der their jurisdiction; that city streets
which are connecting links, are under
the jurisdiction of municipal authori
ties, and that the erection of the mark
ers within city limits is up to the city
officials.
A few cities have recognized this need
of the motorist, the bureau says, and
have erected the standard markers on
their streets.
Since the standard route markers
and danger and caution signs were
adopted in 1925 for use on the United
States Highway System. 28 States have
completed the marking of the system
within their borders and under their
jurisdictions, eight States have marked
from 75 to 99 per cent of their roads,
and four States have marked from 50
to 75 per cent.
motorist who crosses a track without
every precaution, but the decision re
quiring a motorist to alight from his
automobile and go over on the track,
placing the entire burden upon him at
such blind crossings, the association be
lieves, is unfair.”
SPEED NOT THE ONLY
MENACE ON HIGHWAYS
Maryland Auto Commissioner Crit
icizes Drivers Who Are Careless
on Curves and Slippery Roads.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE. January 19.—“ M
otorists who never exceed the speed j
limits, but. at the same time, give little :
attention to traffic and weather con-1
ditions, curves, slippery roads and,
other dangerous situations on the State
highways are as great a menace as the j
reckless driver.” declared E. Austin
Baughman, motor vehicle commissioner,
"and are responsible for a needless toll
of deaths and injuries.”
The motor vehicle law, Commissioner
Baughman pointed out, specifies that
the speed of a motor vehicle shall at
all times be "reasonable and proper,"
having regard to the width of the
highway, proximity of intersections,
condition of traffic and weather. Ap
proaching intersections, curves, sharp
turns or hills there is an especial re
quirement for slowness and caution,
Commissioner Baughman contends.
A rate of speed that reaches or stays
just a fraction under the legal maxi
mum, without regard to the highway
surface or condition, is often reckless
in the extreme, according to Commis
sioner Baughman.
"Driving fast on wet pavements re
sults in scores of ‘skids’ every rainy
day,” says the commissioner, who adds:
“These ‘skids’ result in overturned ve
hicles or collisions with other vehicles
or stationary objects off the highway,
when attempts are made to reduce
speed upon approaching such hazards
or meeting an emergency.
"Approaching curves at a dangerous
speed where attempts to slow down
come too late, result in the ditching of
the car, serious collisions and smash
ups, or a crash into poles or buildings.
"Dim lights and fogs often are dis
regarded as indicating necessity for
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cautious operation, and as a result pe
destrians and other users of the high
ways are not seen until too late to
stop, because the speed was too fast
under the conditions outlined.
"Speed, like fire, may be a good
servant, but when either get beyond
control they become bad masters and
the agents of death and destruction.
"How easy it would have been to
have avoided killing and Injuring so
many people if the operators had used
common sense in governing the speed
of their vehicles to conform with safety
as regards the conditions efisting on
the highway.
"Future accidents can easily be pre
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govern their speed so as not to exceed
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