The Washington herald., 1911-11-26

RICHARD SYLVESTER.
need for such regulation is at once OBJ
, yious. Criticism can also be justly made
in this connection against too bright and
dazzling headlights on motor vehicles in
congested districts as well as against the
frequent failure to throw sufficient light
upon license numbers of automobiles
anywhere and everywhere.
GOnEs Are Necessary.
Equally necessary are the sound sig
nails on motor conveyances, and they
should be of a kind as near in accord as
possible and their use avoided for an
nouncing THE machine is in waiting and
for similar purposes.
Enactment that street cars shall have
the right of way upon their respective
tracks, except when necessarily inter
rupted by the vehicles of the post-ofiCe
police, fire, health department. and those
of funeral professions. should prevail.
and there should be provision against any
vehicle or street car unnecessarily OBJ
structing the free passageway of any
avenue or street, or causing hindrance or
delay.
Waiting vehicles should stop with their
right wheels at the curb, and not re-
main there so as to prevent the approach
of others to let off occupants, and in
congested commercial districts provision
should be made for parking OF carriages
or machines in waiting.
This leads up to the proposition of the
| establishment of public squares or gar
ages for parking purposes. The provid-
ing Of fire runs, particularly over certain
| streets, should make the stopping Of
street railway cars where their tracks
| ntersect with another street a precau-
| tion to be taken while the sounding of
! fire alarms should bring all cars within
| hearing to a standstill before making
| immediate crossing.
Horses Should BE Hitched.
Horses left unhitched or inhibited in
the street have not only caused hun
dreds of accidents, hut have cost many
| lives, and every municipality should pro-
hibit such risk and carelessness. for there
| are times when the safest horse will
surprise its owner.
Repairs to vehicles in the public streets
| is dangerous practice. unless the horse
attached is first removed from IL, and
the rules of the road should not only
make it unlawful for the motor driver
to conduct his charge If he is under the
influence of liquor. but all drivers should
be compelled by law to have their horses
or vehicles under complete control at all
times. The clear and unobstructed view
to right or left from covered vehicles,
condemnation Of unsafe and insanitary
vehicles, provisions against coasting or
use of sleds in the public avenues and
streets, unsightly or temporary paper or
cloth advertising on vehicles the pro-
truding OF material in transportation to
a dangerous extent beyond the rear of
the axle, the driving of horse-drawn or
,TF. I,
passengers hanging on street cars or
other vehicles. the humane treatment OF
hOrses-are subjects for regulation.
Uniformity in movement by all classes
of ConveyanCes, is what makes for traffic
system. So long as one speed allowance
is made for street cars. another for motor
vehicles. and still another for horse
drawn vehicles, either by law or by di-
rection under equal privileges extended
by law. just so long will there be want
of system.
Speed Zones in Cities.
1t is believed that the fixing of speed
zones in larger cities is the most equitable
arrangement. In recognition of the dam
ger that attaches to the train on a rail-
road track moving through Congested
localities, its speed is reduced to six
and eight miles an hour. while in the
NJ
motor engines run twenty to thirty miles.
In the trade, theatrical, and hotel CEN
tiers, motor and other vehicles should
move at an average minimum motor
speed, in fairness to the horse and Pc
destrian, while an adjoining zone, free
from congestion, could afford greater lati-
tude to the drivers with reduction at in
tersecting streets, and a zone still be-
yond offer still greater freedom of move
ment
The day has not arrived, unfortunately,
when operators of motor vehicles in cities
will fully cooperate with the authorities
in support of laws and regulations gov
erning the conduct of their machines,
and, so long as they make no effort to
show that existing laws are unjust, they
accept them as just by acquiescence and
should support them. They should CO.
operate in securing reasonable laws and |
regulations, and in all such endeavor
there must be some sacrifices on both |
sides. So should those who drive and |
ride horses and walk join not only in |
the adoption of sufficient laws and regu-
lations, but they should aid In their en- |
forcement. Under such cooperation the !
least differences and most satisfaction |
will follow.
Regulating Street Cars.
Before considering the management of
traffic by the police, or other authority, |
it might be In place briefly to summarize |
subjects concerning the conducting of
street railway cars in cities in the in
terest of the public. They should be
regulated to the end that warnings
should be sounded at all crossings, and |
the standing or storage of cars on well
patroniZed streets, except for the moving
Of unusual demands for passage, should
be prohibited. The crossing of a car in
one direction before the car crossing in
an opposite direction at the same inter
section has cleared is dangerous, in that
unobscured observation is prevented, and
a car following Immediately upon the
preceding car is obstructional and ILL.,
timed. The failure of motormen to stop
their cars for waiting patrons is too fire.
luently a practice without good grounds |
for excuse, and should be lawfully dis
The calling of streets and
stops by conductors should never be neg
ected, and the continuous overlooking
Of street cars is dangerous, insanItary,
and unjust. Dangling chains, squeakIng
brakes, and fat wheels are conditions
that should not be allowed to exist in a
city.
After making observations in London, Ii
Paris, and In other European cities, Capt Ii
Alexander r. Piper, U. s. A, retired.
former police commissioner In charge OF
street trafic In New York, instituted .