The Washington herald., 1913-02-05

| The regulations recommended by the
Board for the District. IL was shown,
/ contain about 1.500 words, while those Just
now effective contain $500 words Most
drivers, it was asserted, would not even
read them.
VIII Confuse visitors.
1t was alleged also that the regulations
/ now in force in the District lack uni
formity with those of other cities, and
thus would confuse visitors.
| Representatives of the Chauffeurs'
| Union showed the committee the diff
| culties experienced by drivers of We
| hicles for hire IN taking their fares
| from one point to another, especially
where speed is required. as in trips to
the Union Station. With the present
| regulations. one witness. asserted, a
| remarkably zigZaE course for the avoid
ancc OF stoppages for street cars would
be necessary, and schedule time would
be impossible.
The committee, composed, of Mr.. Mark
as chairman: +. j. Whitehead, vlce-chair-
man: ]. Marry Dove, jr., secretary; ].
Edward Lewis. n. Landon Burchell,
Charles l. Corby, b. b. Earnshaw, Ben
jamin s. Graves, William +. Guide. John
Il. Larner. William p. Emo, John l..
Newbold, George +. Schutt, Emmons. S.
| Smith. Joseph II. Stoddard. George
White, Clark e. Griffith. and Walter NJ
| Brown, authorized Mr.. Mark to appoint
subcommittee to simplify the regula-
tons and present the amended form to
| the Commissioners. This committee, IL
is expected will be named to-day.
Following Is Mr.. Eno's statement:
ITO the Board of Trade and all others
interested in Street Traffic Regula-
tlon. gentlemen:
in order TO thoroughly understand
the street traffic situation in Washing
ton at present, we must briefly explain
what it consists of in its simplest form.
and review its development elsewhere
Traffic regulation Is OF two kinds:
General and special General regulation
Is of primary Importance since it deals
with certain simple but essential rules
which must be known to drivers and
police before order can be brought out
of choas. After the drivers know the
rules and the police are educated to
enforce them, then all special regula-
ton becomes easy.
Special regulation comprises that
which In addition 10 general regulation
is required at the focf and Intersections
OF streets, in ono way traffic streets. at
cab stands, par1dng places, the opera,
theaters, races, 6T.
this article deals in relation to the
regulations just issued for the District
OF Columbia.
General Trnffic Regulation.
THE key note is the education OF
drivers and police without which alb
solutely nothing can be accomplished
quickly or economically. The number
OF police officers necessary for the
regulation Of traffic is in inverse
proportion 10 the knowledge Of the
drivers in the traffic regulations.
up TO 1905 there was practically 10
regulation of street traffic anywhere ex-
cept in London and other British cities
These cities had no printed regulations
but the drivers drove skillfuIly and
were familiar with the usual rules of
the road and the police were we'll trained.
What had been the result OF gener-
ations in London was desired without
unnecessary delay in New York. The
first essential was to teach the drivers
certain simple rules and to educate
the police to enforce them. The ordi-
nary rules of the road, together with a
few but simple regulations, were there
therefore printed in the Police Manual.
in pocket folders for drivers. and on
placards for public stables, garages.
and cab stands. A similar plan was
adopted in Paris. July 10, 1912.
london, which was used as a basis
at the start. New Yonk. since Octo-
her 10, 1908, and Paris since July 10.
1912, are now all working under almost
identical rules, those for Paris (the lat-
est) being the best on account of
greater experience available for COM
piling them. In all three cities the
are police regulations pure
and simple, but authorized by general
ordinances or other laws.
.Not one Of the regulations compiled
nrI- In. haG haa
pcaIed in the later editions. though.
where possible, the wording has been
simpIifed and n few extra paragraphs
have been added.
THE fact that no changes have been
found necessary is due partially to the
fact that each clause was thoroughly
thrashed out, and condensed
with the assistance OF officials in di-
rect charge of the work. and not
adopted until il seemed absolutely sure
it would work satisfactorily, and par
TALLY to the fact that three years had
been given 10 the study OF the traffic |
of London, Paris, and New York before |
It was found possible to get any regs- |
lations officially accepted IN New YORK |
The Necessity for Uniformity.
"'EspecialIy. now that automobiles |
travel SO quickly and so often between |
towns and cities, States and countries, /
In IL desirable that trthic regulations /
be uniform everywhere, modified only l
where necessary to suit some rare To-
cal condition. such as giving the right /
Of way. where everything else is equal.
TO vehicles going north and south over
those going east and West in New
York On account of the long and mar
row shape of Manhattan Island this
rule has been made, but in no other
city has 1t the balance of advantage,
and even in New York 1t Is often /
abused, and causes an element OF dan
ger at crossings, so that it is a ques-
lion whether it should not be left out
IN the next printing of the regulations.
'@The efforts of the International
Road Congresses and of the many au-.I
tomobile' associations and clubs
the world are now being l.
bent toward the adoption of uniform
traffic rules and automobile legislation,
with a view to eliminating complica-
lions, adding to safety, and facilitating
.ravel on all roads and between all
countries. 1t is not only possible but
sven probable that before many years
either the right or the left hand rule
'or passing will be universally adopt
ID, not only for vehicles, but for Pc
lestrians as we'll
In view Of the foregoing, 1t Is evil
iently extremely important that no
police or other Official should be per-
nitted to make his own traffic regula-
ions. but should be restricted TO the
,doptfon of those already in force In