Evening star., 1915-01-30
STREETTRAFFIC PROBLEMS
MAY BE EASILY SOLVED
W. P. Emo Would Have Drivers
Learn the Regulations and Po-
lice Enforce Them.
To he Editor of The Star:

To ;he Editor of The Star:
Owing to it's wide streets and Su
perior plan there is no city of its size
in America where street traffic prob
lens are so simple as in Washington,
but even here the question has not been
tried out of how best to restrict stop
ped. standing. waiting and parked We
hcles SO that, while no unnecessary
hardship is entailed. the rights of all
may be maintained.
The only reason why there is any real
trouble now is that the traffic regula-
tions are not sufficiently distributed to
be generally known and understood.
nor are they properly enforced by the
police.
sections 10 to Is, inclusive. of the
regulations follow and thoroughly
cover the subject in hand:
STOPPING. STANDING. WAITING AND
PARKING.
Sec. 10. A vehicle shall not stop
with its left side to the curb.
Sec. IL. a vehicle waiting in front
of an entrance to building shall
promptly give way to a vehicle ar
riving to take up or set down pas
sengers.
Sec. IL. A vehicle shall not be left
in such position to prevent
and parallel to the curb in front of
an entrance to a building, nor SO
as to prevent another vehicle al
ready stopped near the curb from
moving away. nor within fifteen feet
of a fire hydrant.
Sec. 10. A vehicle shall not be SO
parked or otherwise stopped as to
prevent the free passage of other
vehicles or street cars in both di-
rections at the same time.
hinla
shall not stand backed up at any
angle to a curb, except while load
ing or unloading, and if horse
drawn and with four wheels the
horses shall stand parallel with the
curb, faced in the direction of traf-
dc.
Sec. Is. a vehicle shall not stop in
any street except near the curb and
so as not to obstruct a crossing,
unless 40 allow another vehicle,
street car or pedestrian to cross its
path.
The above regulations allow a vehicle
TO stop anywhere at the curb provided
II does not overlap crossing, but they
40 not allow IT to be left without a
driver in front of the entrance to a
building SO as to prevent direct ac-
cess and egress and interfere in an un-
warranted way with the rights of
others.
There are many places, however.
definite time without serious incon-
venience to any oue-viZ, in front of
buildings but not in front of their
entrances, in front of unoccupied
buildings, alongside of parks, etc. etc
In addition to this. many of the wide
streets give ample room in the middle
for parking spaces. Some of these are
aready marked off with paint lines and
many more could be SO marked with
advantage. These public parking
spaces should be indicated by signs.
The real solution of the difficulty is
education of the drivers in the regula-
tions and the enforcement of these
regulations by the police. To hasten
the former. policemen should carry d
supply of traffic regulation folders to
be given to deliaquents. and should
mark thereon the regulation that has
JiOns on iron standards located at the
curb would also greatly hasten ef-
nciency, and have the added advanta ge
OF educating pedestrians, thus pre-
venting accidents which are now often
due to ignorance of the traffic regula-
rIous.
The plan tried In many cities of al
lowing vehicles TO stop at the curb
On certain streets for d limited mum
Der of minutes has proven Il compli-
Gated failure everywhere.
thorough trial with proper police
enforcement has not yet beer. given III
Washington TO our traffic regulations.
When II is given IL will be found that
they contain only what is absolutely
necessary and nothing superfiuous so
far as the subject at hand is con-
cerned. WILLIAM =. Emo.