Evening Star Newspaper, August 19, 1929, Page 10

10 * THE EVENING .STAR, .WASHINGTON, D.. C, MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 1929. TRAFFIC EXPERTS URGE UNIFORMITY Pin Faith on Hoover Code Left Turn After Studying System at Work. (Continued From First Page.) the national traffic committee, asked: Do you consider it of importance that there be uniformity in traffic rules, and if so, why? Has your community adopted the Hoover code provisions governing the Jeft turn, is, to make the'turn from the left traffic lane, and, if not, why? Safety Value Is Stressed. ‘Throughout the letters ran the theme of the safety value of minimizing con- fusion in the minds of motorists, which result, it was pointed out, can be ob- tained only by standardizing regula- tions so that the ruies of one community will obtain in every other. Time and again it was stressed that city and State boundary lines are being obliter- ated by the automobile. ‘This_point was hammered home by Alvan Macauley, president and general manager of the Packard Motor Car Co., who declared that the American public is traveling in 25,000,000 motor cars, 480,000,000 miles daily and that several million of th cars constantly are on the way from’ one town to an- other, and from one State to another. Only by a visualization of the vast picture painted in these bold strokes is it possible to comprehend the urgent necessity for traffic laws which will be the same here, there and everywhere and only by contemplating that same mental vision of migration can a com- prehensive picture be obtained of the dangers created when an isolated com- munity throws across this travel stream some provincial regulation peculiar to itself and not in accord with generally accepted traffic directory rules. Such at least was the view expressed by the experts in their communications to The Star. Ability of Commitieemen Is Cited. In the list of cities whose citizens made known their ideas, appear towns from New Orleans to Detroit and from Boston to San Francisco. Included also are Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York City, Buffalo, St. Louls, Dayton, Cincin- nati, Springfield, Ill.: Chicago, Newark, Baltimore, Hartford, Berkeley and Wash- ington. Extracts from the opinions of these men who were considered as such worthy experts as to warrant their being summoned to the highway safety con- ference called by Mr. Hoover form a decidedly worth-while symposium of in- telligent thought on traffic problems and for that reason are quoted somewhat in detail. “There is a unanimous opinion among motorists in favor of uniformity in traffic rules, and since a majority of the people in the United States now are so classed, there is no argument other than to convince those who make the regulations that the basis for such regulation must come from somebody that has studied the problem from a national point of view,” wrote Lewis E. MacBrayne, general manager of the Massachusetts safety council. “In Bos- ton, we have adopted the left-trun pro- vision as recommended in the Hoover Code, with the exception of half a dozen intersections, where the left turn 1s prohibited owing to the hazard at that particular point.” of Thomas F. Goode, deputy superin tendent of the Boston Police Depart. ment: “I consider it very important that there be uniformity in traffic rules, because it sets a permanent standard to be followed by the drivers or oper- ators of all vehicles, thereby creating a greater degree of efficiency in our road- ways. We have adopted the Hoover Code’ governing left turns.” Pacific Coast Chief Is Quoted. Moving now from the Atlantic to the Pacific in the manner made possible by ihe motor car, August Vollmer, chief of police of Berkeldy, Calif., seemingly had such a trip in mind when he stated: “Uniformity in traffic rules is necessary for the reason that automobiles are used widely in going from State to State and from city to city. Non-uni- formity of regulations causes confusion and contributes considerably to the ac- cident toll that it taken each year in this country.” In answer to the second query, Chief Vollmer said: “This city has adopted the Hoover Code provisions governing the left-hand turn, and so far as I have been able to ascertain up to the present time this regulation is working satisfactorily.” That “uniformity in State laws and city ordinances regulating traffic leaves the traveler no excuse, in the event he is apprehended by local authorities, for violations,” is the new thought ad- vanced by P. E. Towne, California State Automobile Assoclation, writing from the general offices in San Francisco. “Many offenders escape by simply plead- 1ng ignorance of the law and, while under ——————— safety division, National Safety Council, expressed his views as follows: “Maj. Reninger’s article represents the view- point of the National Safety Council We are, of course, strongly in favor of uniform regulations, because of their obvious advantage in increasing both the :nm.y and the ease of traffic move- ment.” It was the expressed belief of Charles M. _Hayes, president, Chicago Motor Club, that there should be uniformity because “an overwhelming majority of car owners travel from one town to another.” He likewise stated that left urns are made in Chicago from “the left traffic lane where left turns are permitted,” and W. J. Towne, chief enginecr of the Chicago Northwestern Railway Co., replied that “Chicago had in use the turn from the left traffic lane prior to the development of the Hoover code on its downtown boulevard thor- oughfares.” Likewise, Towne considers uniformity important because “all driv- ers of motor cars ought to understand the rules, and unless there is some uni- formity, there can be no hope of such general understanding. Traffic rules in ‘Washington ought to mean the same as they do in Chicago, generally speaking.” Traveling south to Louisiana, H. B. Flowers, president, New Orleans Public Service, Inc., “considers uniformity in traffic rules for important. Undoubtedly, numerous ac- cidents and attendant delays result from lack of familiarity with local rules. In New Orleans we make the turn to the left from the left lane ,of traffic. think this is proper.” Turning back toward Washington Lucius S. Storrs, executive chairman, the United Railways & Electric Co. of Baltimore, agreed with George G. Henry, chief inspector, Police Depart- ment, and F. Highlands Burns, presi- dent, Maryland Casualty Co., in their statements that Baltimore uses the Hoover left turn. On uniformity, Mr. Storrs said he considered it of “great importance in order that traffic move- ments may be made as safe and swift as possible. A variety of State traffic - the benefit of u(ezyl all cities of the country as it is based on comimon sense and reason. Uni< formity is of the greatest importance. The motorist of today is constantly puzzled in touring as he enters cities, thus caus confusion in his mind and mllnnl is driving control. This - ‘l‘d have & tendency to cause acci- nts.” From Philadelphid comes the report of Robert P. Hooper, president, Willlam E. Hooper & Sons Co., a8 member of the trafic committee in his home city as well as the committee of the nati'pial organization. “Our city has already adopted the provisions governing the left turn in the Hoover code and we consider it absolutely essential that all large cities adopt as near to a uniform traffic regulation as. possible. Other- wise, the ignorance of strangers as to the rules wmfid constantly increase the dt:.nnrs which ever &re present in all 0. ‘Thomas H. Carrow, superintendent of safety, the Pennsylvania Railroad, also of Philadelphia, writes that the Hoover turn, adopted there, meets with his ap- proval and he thinks “uniformity of rre-eminent importance. We have found t so0 on the railroads, which have a uni- form set of operating rules applicable on every railroad in the United States. Uniformity tends to give all concerned the benefit of the best methods, it ob- viates repetition of instructions and in- ) sures uniform action under given cir- cumstances by individuals who may be removed from their usual environment. One of the first steps in accident pre- vention is uniformity in rules and regu. lations.” Pittsburgh Adopts Turn. Pittsburgh, too, has Hoover left turn, according to Lewis W. Mclntyre, consulting street traffic spe- clalist, University of Pittsburgh. formity removes one element in the confusion one feels in driving in a strange community; confusion causes | accidents and loss of life; hence removal of confusion prevents accidents and saves lives, It helps one predict what the other driver is going to do. This adopted _the | “Uni- | HOOVER LEFTTURN GANS BIG LEAD A. A. A. Official Says 69.8 Per Cent of 5,772 Motorists Express Favor. Public interest in the question of changing the present method of making a left turn in Washington has .not subsided and opinions pouring into the District of Columbia division of the American Automobile Association con- tinue to show an overwhilming senti- ment for adopting the Hoover standard left turn, as well as uniform traffic rules generally. This statement was issued today by Charles P. Clark, general manager of the A. A. A, on the basis of the fact that out of 5,772 car owners registering their opinions regarding the left turn, 69.8 per cent favored the Hoover turn up traffic, thus helping to relieve con- gestion. “Standardizing traffic rules means changing a practice here and there in | various communities, some of which practices have considerable merit as applied to the particular community. I | believe, however, if we can shake off | the provincialism which prevents some from looking beyond the borders of their own community, and view this problem | 25 a national one, that the securing of | the greatest good for the greatest num- ber makes uniformity of traffic rules rules is productive of uncertainty, delay | again makes for traffic safety and speeds highly desirable.” and accident.” Inspector Henry . be- lieves uniformity important, as it “would make it easier for motorists to familarize themselves with the law.” Mr. Burns expressed h's conviction that: “In these days of extensive touring, gvery one should be familar with the rules of every State, and this desirable result can ‘only be obtained by uniformity of traffic rules in all States.” Detroit Uses Hoover Turn. From Detroit, Mich., the replies re- ceived were all to the effect that the Hoover left turn method is used there. John W. Reid, commissioner, Depart- ment of Public Works, said uniformity “is in the interest of the free, safe movement of traffic, since it minimizes confusion.” While feeling that there are some matters which can not be uni form because of local conditions, Howard D. Brown, attorney, Detroit Automobile Club, repifed: “I” believe every traffic rule should be as uniform as possible and that there should be uniformity in all matters affecting the fundamental principles in driving automobiles.” Certain statistical portions of the re- ply of Mr. Macauley already have been quoted. On uniformity, after pointing out its safety value, he continued: “The stranger, not familiar with traffic rules, as he is in a city other than his own, is responsible - for no inconsiderable amount of traffic congestion. He drives uncertainly and haltingly, fearing to violate the strange traffic regulations.” Of the left-hand trun, Mr. Macauley remarked, “I am quite familiar with the other method as used in Cleveland and in some other cities, and I think the Hoover code method is much superior. Each method has some advantages, but as a student of traffic matters over a number of years I would say that the Hoover code method is greatly superior.” St. Louis, Mo., according to the reply of Harland Bartholomew, Harland Bar- tholomew & Associates, city plan and landscaping engineers, does use the from his letter and others received that loeft turns are optional with the traffic officers during rush periods. F. W. A. Vesper, Vesper Buick Co., replied that “our community is favorable to all the provisions of the Hoover code.” He fur- ther commented on the successful use of the three-light system, by which left turnsy were made on the white light at some of the intersections. There was no specific answer from the police depart- ment owirg to the absence of the chef, but from the captain commanding the traffic division, The Star received a statement that some parts of the Hoover code have been drafted for presentation to the Board of Aldermen in September, and the captain stated, “I consider it very important that there be uniformity in traffic rules all over the country.” New Yorker Urges Uniformity. From upstate New York, W. B. Powell, consulting engineer, Consolidated Pack- aging Machinery Corporation, replied that “uniformity is of the greatest im- portance, as all' traffic is expedited if drivers obey the same code of rules and in addition a great many of the hazards of the highway are eliminated, because there are no chances of misunderstand- ing. city of Buffalo always has used the Hoover code method of mak- ing & left turn from the left lane of aveling east again to New Jersey, Fred M. Rosseland, mrmry-mnmge{ Newark Safety Council, reports the Hoover left turn as part of the State law and that “uniformity will tend to expedite traffic movement with increased In much the same tenor is the rep]yIHoover left turn method, but it appears the law ignorance may be no excuse, it usually is accepted as such. Unk: formity avoids error of misunderstan . The San Prancisco ordinance cludes the Hoover Code provisions go erning the left-hand turn. This pro- wvision is so necessary no objections made to it from any source.” Misunderstanding ¥s Cited. Touring back East now to Hartford, Conn., where R.-B. Stoeckel is State commissioner of motor vehicles, there is found in one of the latest bulle- rs prepared by him this statement: “It is a common occurrence for mis- understanding of simple traffic rules to occasion serious difficulty, a large pro- portion of such occurrences arising be- | cause, in different jurisdictions, there have existed decidedly different ‘raffic regulations.” Mr. Stoeckel, in Lae bul- letin, then goes on to state that the Connecticut law was found to be in accordance with the Hoover uniform code except five sections which were in- terpretative. However, a conference was called of the State Association of Police Chiefs before the meeting of the General Assembly of 1929 and then that body adopted the Connecticut uniform traffic act. A further bulletin issued by Mr. Stoeckel with diagrams of proper turn_methods shows the left turn from the left lane of traffic. The commis- sioner, being on vacation, no direct re- ply was receivéd from him ‘personall; Going West to Chicago, the reply relved from Henry A. Reninger, pres dent of the National Safety Council, was in the form ;so(c n‘n &mfilue‘ néwnish Ingly apropos to local Washington con- xi‘}&gm.p"wmle we all, theoretically, be- lieve in standard traffic regulatiol méiny of us are inclined to feel that the way to obtain uniformity is by having every one else adopt our particular local regulations. Obviously, the only way we, ever can get practical uniformity is by having each Seate or city willing to make some concessions in favor .of standard based on the general experi- ence and the prevailing practice. The model municipal traffic ordinance was carefully worked out by a large repre- that I have heard | has béen in effect in New Jersey and is safety.” Hawley S. Simpson, the traf- fic engineer, Essex County, N. J., in dis- cussing the left turn, wrote: “The reg- ulation requiring left-turn traffic to move from the lane nearest the center of the road, to my knowledge, always the most practical of such rules for general use. There may be particular situations in which a modification of the rule is advisable, but I do not be- lieve the left-turning rule as used in ‘Washington, Cleveland and other locali- ties, requiring left turns to be made from the right curb, to be at all satisfactory. I consider uniformity to be of the greatest importance, inasmuch as any material reduction in the traffic-acci- dent situation largely will be effected through the knowledge by every driver of every traffic rule on the more es- sential points, which can only be achieved when they are similar.” Crossing over to New York City, C. B. Warren, president of Warren-Nash Motor Corporation, advances the thought that until theré is uniformity, it is un- fair to be other than lenient with the motorist confused ~by strange regul tions, but that “when uniform traffic rules prevail, strict enforcement should follow with correspondingly increased safety to 1life, limb and . property.” “Uniformity is important because it is one phase of accident prevention which can be tackled easily since it will pre- vent those disasters which come from confusion and unfamiliarity,” writes John C. Long, secretary of street traffic committee, National Automobile Cham- ber of Commerce. ‘“New York makes the turn to the left from the left traffic lane.” William Butler, general ¢ounsel, U. S. Casualty Co., sees “uniformity as ns, | of first importance because it insi the greatest degree of safety.” ¥ Insurance Official's Opinion. With the provision that his views were to be regarded as his own sonal opinion and in no way reflecting the. attitude .of his company, W. G. Cole, direetor of safety devices, Metro- politan Life Insurance Co., wrote: “With the present tendency toward . touring, differing of regulations causes serious inconvenience, embarrassment and at sentative committee. This committee recognized that in some places a driver wishing to make a left turn is re- quired to stop at the right-hand side of the intersection and wait for the crpss traffic. This practice is believed ta e feasible only under certain con- ditions of street width and volume of traffic, and when this practice is fa Jowed at certain intersections within a city: while the other rule is followed elgewhere, much confusion is bound to resylt. It is difficult to see enough et sadvaniates, Lack of Ul e vantages. of upi- b in confusion, which 1 us wittingly doing the wrong or unex- thing.” L1 times actual hazards. It is frequently necessary for a motorist to give more attention to what he is to do next than to how he is to do it. In other words, he must give mare attention. to the reg- ulations of a particular town or city through ‘which he is passing than to how he shall.drive safely.” Prom Dayton. Ohio. ‘R. L. Wilkinson, sales manager, Delco Products tion, th moval caused “The City of ‘Hoover code from the left lane in lieu of the present swinging rotary turn. The A. A. A. exeeutive pointed out that 96.5 per cent of 5,589 resident car owners expressed themselves for uni- formity in traffic rules, and 923 per cent of 5,368 motorists declared them- selves to favor one rule at all crossings whether controlled -or uncontrolled. Mr. Clark says the nn?rmnc feature of the A. A. A. survey is the large num- ber of resident car owners who do not know that two methods are used for making left turns in the Capital. Asked the question, “Did you know Washing- ton had two methods for making left turns, one for controlled crossings and one for uncontrolled crossings? 5.1 per cent of 5,066 car owners did not kno of the two methods. 3 “Sentiment among visiting motorists is equally as strong for a change in the method of making a left turn,” declgred Mr. Clark. *“Out of 515 expressions from car owners from 40" States and Canada, 76.1 per cent favored the Hoover turn in preference to the pres- ent rotary turn. Moreover, the survey revealed that 50.6 per cent of 441 visit- ing motorists did not know that two methods are employed for making a left turn in the Capital, while 95.1 per cent of 492 car owners expressed them- selves as favoring one rule at all cross- ings, whether controlled or uncontrolled. There were 98 per cent, or 512 visiting motorists, in favor of uniform traffic rules.” e POLLARD VOTE BIG. RICHMOND, Va, August 19 ()— John Garland Pollard was nominated for Governor of Virginia by the Demo- cratic party in the August 6 primary, with a plurality- of 70,367 votes over G. Walter Mapp and Rosewell Page, his two opponents, complete official returns showed today when announced by the State board of canyassers. Mr. Pollard polled 104,310 votes of the 138,253 cast in the primary. Mr. Mapp received 29,386 and Mr. Page 4.557. LY= ~ THE SCIENTIFIC INSECTICIDE DEVELOPED AT MELLON INSTITUTE (OF INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH BY REX RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP KILLS MOSQUITOES . . FLIES MOTHS . . ROACHES . . BED BUGS . . ANTS . . ETC. The makers of FLY-TOX raise a vast army of insects to the highest state of vi*ov and then place them in the FLY-TOX “Chamber of Death” to prove with absolute certainty the killing qualities of FLY-TOX before itis sold to you._ FLY-TOX test. Within 5 minutes Il insects it lav must be dew Hermless to People C 1929 by ex Co THERE IS ONLY ONE FLY.TOX . . 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