Salt Lake Tribune | 1917-03-25 | Page 33 | The 'Jay Hawk' is Agin in Salt Lake

AGAINJHSALT LAKE Care in Crossing Streets Care in Crossinig Streets Cause of Accidents. CAMPAIGN IS PLANNED Traffic Department Will Soon Enforce Regulations Covering Pedestrians. DEFINITION: "Jay Hawk." a pedestrian who crosses busy streets from all angles, looks neither to the right nor tho left; who dodges out from behind wagons or street cars directly in the path of an approaching machine and expects the driver to look out for his safety; who uses the road instead of the sfdewalk and when struck blames the motorist and finally sues for heavy damages. So much has been said about the motorist breaking ordinances, killing and maiming .hundreds of persons and in general creating havoc upon the eity streets that the motor car owner often wonders if sometimes it isn't as much the fault of the victim as the man behind the wheel. Of course- the pedestrian pe-destrian is not always to blame neither is the automobilist bnt scores of accidents have been reported that really were unavoidable so far as the driver was concerned an with the blame solely resting on the pedestrian. All jiio.a of size are troubled more orJs with the pedestrian known uni-aySrsaJlv uni-aySrsaJlv as the "Jay Hawk." With his dodging manner of endeavor to gain a few seconds' time, he baa attained yStbe name of being not only dangerous the motorist, the city in which he oX-iles, but to himself, and it is he who"iost commonly is seen being dragged from beneath tho wheels of motor cars and rushed bleeding and torn to the hospital. Jay Hawk Lives Here. He perhaps knows that he is doing wrong when he crosses the street diag-nally, diag-nally, Bteps from behind street cars, and refuses to use the safety aisles provided for his safe passage. But, like every other habit, it is hard to break and he makes up his mind that this will be his last, with the result that the trip before the good resolution goes f'into effect has really proved the last for many persons. Bait take has its full miota of the "Jav Hawk" variety. The unusually lengthy blocks are responsible in a. large way for keeping the army up to its full 'utrength. Then, the traffic decrease , during the winter months, is responsible for the heavy recruiting of the ranks at this time. Many form the habit when the traffic, is slight and when there is a minimum of danger, only to find it difficult to shake off when the motor cars come thick and fast. , There are rules and regulations governing gov-erning the passage of pedestrians across the streets as well as regulations fcr the motor owner. But few pedestrians pedes-trians take the trouble in looking them i up. Tho information can bo obtained free at police headquarters. Sauce for the Goose. Salt Lake has not yet gone to the ! extent of demanding of the pedestrian that he abide by the ordinances, as is i demanded of the car owner. However. this will enme in due time. In the . I meantime, the police are asking the co- 1 operation of the pedestrian with the V motorist and tho traffic, policeman in endeavor to cut down the yearly toll tiiSis the result of war between the man who rifles nnd the man who walks. Munv cities have enforced the regulations' regu-lations' relative to the pedestrian with arrests and convictions, which has been successful to a great degree. However, tho time has not. yet arrived when this will take place in this city. So, until this time comes, the request is marie of the pedestrian that he do his part so well that tho enforcement will not be , necessary later.