The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-03
CHAOS RESULTS FROM
LACK OF TRAFFIC CODE

| distractions to traffic and one OF the
most abused privileges granted by the
city
on complaint OF Councilman gatkins
! and Alderman Gilman, both contract
ing plasterers. the Council last year
rejected an ordinance requiring all
builders to secure a permit before
placing any building material In the
streets.
Streets Much Obatructed.
1t is recognized that there should
be some supervision OF the obstruc.
ton of the streets by material some
be used merely as storage yard for
the sale Of old building material, and
some limit Of the proportion of the
street to be used by the contractor.
especially where 1t would be practi-
cable to use a side street without OBJ
structing main thoroughfare. and
more strict requirements that the
street be cleared OF debris andLbuilders'
rubbish when the building operations
are completed. All of this. 1t Is be-
lieyed, could be provided for In the
traffic code which Is proposed.
In order to secure the best results
IL mas DeeH SuSSGSlCu AopscuA ~
leaving the wording of the ne wlaw to
the city Attorney or the clerk Of some
Council committee, that definite COM
mission be named, say OF one owner OF
heavy hauling teams. one automobile
owner, one driver OF pleasure horses.
one member or the Police Board and
several Councilmen. The plan would
be that followed in drafting the pres
emit building code.
Provfsions OF Elicit Law.
The Elicit law adopted by the Board
OF Aldermen last February and tabled
in the Council until July when 1t was
passed, requires the driver OF every
vehicle to go to the right In meeting
another vehicle in order to pass with
out interference and to pass from be-
hind on the left. 1t forbids any one
to leave any vehicle unattended IN
building. theatre, hotel, department
store or other place OF congestion. q
provision now daily violated under the
very eyes OF police officers.
The ordinance suggested by the Au-
tomobile Club, which died in the old
Board OF Aldermen, proposed that the
driver OF every motor car should OBJ
tain license on examination before
a special board as to his qualifications
for running the machine. 1t proposed
that the Board Of Police Commission
ers should appoint three discreet per-
sons" to examine and license chauf.
feurs, and that the license shall not be
granted to person under eighteen
years Of age, or until the applicant has
shown himself competent to operate
and control his car with reasonable
safety to himself and to occupants OF
his car, as well as to pedestrians and
other persons using the streets.
Grcnt Improvement Alrendy.
Acting under the provisions OF the
Elicit law requiring driving 10 the
right, the Police Department has beer,
making an effort to relieve congestion
in crowded streets. and has already
made marked Improvement in the
conditions of traffic In some sections.
Drivers are becoming familiar with the
regulations, and were the Tvs bearing
on yehicular traffic codifed. fndexed
and put in accessible form. so tina,
one would not have to employ an at-
torney to search them out OF the vo-
luminous records in the Office OF the
| City Clerk, it Is believed there would
be little difficulty in making the use
+! of the streets both reasonably safe and
| expeditions. even though the city were
| to grow to many times It's presen.
| size, and its commerce and traffic In
crease accordingly.
Il