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Show PEDESTRIAN HAS RIGHT-OF-WAY Motorists Are Warned to Exercise Care as Result of Court Decision. A decision tins Just been handed down by the United States District Court of Appeals, upholding a pedestrian's pedes-trian's right-of-way at a crossing despite des-pite traffic signal shifts, according to the legal department of the American Ameri-can Motorists' Association. Pedestrians' Rights. In effect the court holds that pedestrians pe-destrians have the right-of-way not only at uncontrolled crossings but also al-so when they have entered nn Intersection Inter-section on a green light and further holds that the pedestrian has the right-of-way until be readies the op poslte curb, without regard to the change of lights during his passage of the crossing. The decision is regarded by the association's as-sociation's legal department as just and Is being called to the attention of the motoring puhllc In order that the motorist may have full knowledge of his legal responsibility. "When a pedestrian steps from a curb to cross the street, having a green signal with him, he does so by way of Invitation and he cannot be charged with contributory neglect If the signal switches when be Is In the street. Caught In this position, the obligation rests upon the motor lsts not only to observe the situation, but to wait until the crossing Is clear," the decision declares. Must Exercise Vigilance. "Many automobile drivers," contin tied the court, "seem to Imagine that with the shift of the signal they are given a cleir right-of-way against In tersectlng traffic. In this belief they recklessly start tlielr machines regardless re-gardless of persons who are already on the Intersection. It Is the dutj of drivers of machines to exercise greatest vigilance and care under such circumstances and not only to have their machines under control but to stop and wait until pedestrl una have had an opportunity to cleai the crossing. Failure to observe these precautions constitutes negll gence on the part of the driver, which, In rase of accident, is chargeable- to him." |