Evening star., 1912-11-08
NEW TRAFFIC RULES.
Changes in Regulations Prob
able in Near Future.
APPLIES TO ALL VEHICLES
Suggestions by Police Chief Relative
to Public Streets.
BAN ON BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS
Revocation Of Speed Law Proposed,
With Authority to Adopt More
Elastic Provision.
IAN ON BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS

All vehicles. whether motor-driven or
horse-drawn, hereafter will be required to
stop when approaching street cars that
are at a standstill for the purpose of
taking on or discharging passengers, if
a suggestion to be made to the Commits
sioners by Maj. Richard Sylvester, su-
perintendent of police, IS adopted as a
traffic regulation for the District of
Columbia
General revision of the traffic regula-
tions may be undertaken by the Com
missioners, as it is the plan of Maj. Syl-
vester to recommend to the District heads
in the next few days number of changes
in the present rules governing the opera
ton of vehicles of every kind.
Among the recommendations that are
being considered are that Congress be
asked to revoke the speed law. giving the
Commissioners authority to adopt regu-
lations in lieu thereof which will be more
elastic; that rules be prescribed governins
the manner in which vehicles shall be
turned around in order to proceed in an
opposite direction or operated around the
various street circles, and the plan al
ready mentioned of requiring vehicles to
be stopped when approaching street cars
that are stationary
Governing Use of Headlights.
Several other changes will be recon-
mended, one Of which will direct that
brilliant headlights may not be displayed
on automobiles driven in the city at
night. There is at present a regulation
of this kind in effect, but, under a de-
cision of the Police Court, it has been
neld to apply only to the business dis
trict. 1t is proposed to abolish the regu-
lation and adopt new one, which viii
apply to every section of the city.
While it is not known what action the
Commissioners may take, it is understood
they are impressed with the necessity OF
making the traffic regulations as effective
as possible for the projection of pedes
Trans and the prevention of accidents.
1t is not unlikely that a number Of MAJ.
oylveSter'S recommendations will be
spdorted.
Generally speaking, the plan Of the po-
lice department head is to throw stricter
regulations around traffic at street in
IerSections.
Recently the Federation of Citizens AS
sociations considered a resolution direct
4ns tnat vehicles he not allowed to ap-
proach within six feet of a street cdI
that has stopped to take on or discharge
Passengers and that IL approaching out
side the slx-foot zone, they be not al
lowed to proceed at a greater rate OF
speed than four miles an hour.
Requires Absolute Stops.
Maj Sylvester's plan goes further. 1t
would require vehicles to come to an abb
solute stop on the same side Of the street
the car has come to q standstill and to
remain stationary until the passengers
discharged ave reached the sidewalk.
Such a plan is in force In other cities,
notably New York where it has been
found to work successfully.
The police chief believes that the speed
law passed by Congress in 1905 has out
grown its usefulness, and, therefore, he
would have this law abolished and au-
thority given to the Commissioners to
nearly up-to-date.
!. For example. this law allows a twelve
mile speed limit on the city streets. Maj.
Sylvester would have this limit reduced,
although, he says, he might favor the
limit being increased on streets or roads
in the District outside the residential
areas. Speed limits. he asserts, should be
established according to zones to be laid
out by the Commissioners.
Danger In Bright Lights.
Automobiles assert that there is a
danger to traffic in the display OF bril-
liant headlights on machines at night,
and there is little doubt that the Commits
sioners will give consideration to this
question.
According to Maj Sylvester there is
urgent need OF regulations governing traf-
fic around street circles and the method
by which vehicles shall be turned on
streets.
1t is possible that the Commissioners
may decide to revise the traffic regula-
tions from beginning to end, and publish
them as seperate set of regulations of
the District.