South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-08-06
Board of Works in Lengthy
Session Discusses Handling
of Motor Driven
Vehicles.
POLICE FORCE CAN'T
HANDLE SITUATION
More Men Needed Is COnten-
tion of Board-WOuId Keep
Women Drivers Off the
Main Streets.

South Bend traffic regulation and
the city's need for more men TO con-
troll it was discussed at length by the
board of public safety at its regular
meeting Friday morning. 1t was de-
clared by John A. Hibberd, member
of the board, that unless the city coun-
ell appropriated funds suttlclent Tor
the appointment of two or more ponce
officers, cOngested conditions IN the
central business district would become
more dangerous and hazardous instead
of improved.
Pole Chief Millard +. Kerr pre-
sented the board with list OF recon-
mendations forwarded TO his office by
the Safety First federation of America,
of New York Martin Y. Cole, former
street commissioner, offered several
suggestions for the control of motor
vehicle traffic, and for bettering con-
ditiOns on Michigan St between ColfaX
av and Washington av.
Kerr urged the placing of warning
signs at the most conspicuous points
in the city and placed several samples
before the board. These signs have
been adopted IN other cities, and were
recommended TO this city by several
municipalities in wich they have been
tested. The board refused to purchase
any number at present, but stated that
OF them later.
Chief Makes Recommendations.
Kerr also recommended the follow
ing stipuatiOns in a proposed list OF
traffic regulations:
a standard code of hand signals to
be used by traffic officers.
Elimination of glare of head and
tail lights.
Standardization Of left hand turns
I'd far,r
Rear lights on all horse drawn ve-
hicles.
Elimination of steps on all horse
drawn vehicles and motor trucks.
Standard size, color, design and
means of attachment for all traffic
signs including school, hospital,
church, safety zones, fire hydrants,
railroad and street railway crossings,
alley, mail boxes, crosswalks, park
ing. etc.
Licensing of drivers and operators
of all motor vehicles.
Exclusive use of siren whistles on
police and fire vehicles
Standardization of accident reports
from all departments of the city gov
ernment
Compelling motor vehicles to detour
around a block instead of turning COM
pletely around at a street intersection.
Is Growing Problem.
Traffic regulation, according to
mem bers of the board. is a growing
problem and one with which the local
police department is little fitted to
cope The jitney bus traffic. according
to Mr.. Hibberd, is becoming a menace
to the safety of the public in that
these are so numerous that their con-
troll at congested street intersections is
practically impossible.
Attention to this problem was called
by Mr.. Cole, who declared that jitney
buses made il "A practice TO race up
and down Washington av. and other
thoroughfares upon which they Op-
Grated with a total disregard 10 the
danger resulting 10 life and property
He declared that one bus man would
race another to the nearest supposed
passenger. and that often he had seen
them going as fast as 80 or so miles
an hour
"Our hands are tied" said Mr.. Hib-
berd, unless the council will help us
Our traffic ordinance is easily enforced
but conditions of the present are not
CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT)