Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-20
Traffic Regulation

Traffic Regulation
w HEN the subcommittee of the Council
w Committee on Ordinances meets to-
morrow night to consider the rcdraftnr of
the ordinances designed to regulate traffic.
it will find al unsystc matic confused and
often inadequate code. amended by subse-
quen' ordinances. which il will he the sub
committees duty TO straichtcn out and shape
for the safety OF the public
PERHAPS the most important section of the
present code, in many respects. is meaning
less. This is the section regarding the pun
ishmcnt Of drunken and reckless motorists
which provides for the revocation Of licenses
III such cases As has been pointed out many
times ~ this newspaper. there is no license
10 revoke, except in the case OF professional
chauheurs. or chauileurs for hire. Under
inc present ordnance any person more than
sixteen years Old is permitted to operate any
car The subcommittee will find it easy to
give TINS section teeth. by providing for the
examination Of prospective motorists. and for
y yel Sonal license. rcvocable for certain of
lenses.
III the subcommittee desire 10 utilize it's
whole opportunity. il will also recommend in
this connection. that Council rescind the exist
ing ordinance that prescribes a fixed series of
fines for violations % the speed laws That
Is AZ beSt only an unworthy device to meet
me habit of the present Police Justice and at
worst deprives any local magistrate Of the
right TO distinguish between simple and
fla grant ofrcnses.
The subcommittee should also strongly
urge the re-cnactmcnt of the ordinance pro
hihi'ns the use of slaring headlights in the
city Such an ordinance was in force shor,
tim" ago. but was Observation-Disclosures nobody
seems TO know. This is one of the most
obvious needs of the situation at present as
the headlights are constant menace to all
users oil the streets, whether in vehicles or
on loot Here too. the subcommittee should
go further and recommend Il requirement
that all vehicles carry lights ut night I'm
lighted wagons and hacks are also a menace
TO the public safety
Right OF way Tor street cars over other
tram" is SO essential. both 10 safety and
expedition OF traffic. that the doubt now
exls'lhE as to the construction OF the ordi-
name" i'll that respect should be resolved |,
Is clear that east and wcsthound cars have
rlsh' OF way over north and southbound
vehicles: il is doubtful whether north and
southbound ears have that right over ems,
ana Wcstbound traffic. The wisdom of grant
ing tnis right i'll all cases is too apparent TO
require argument.
An amendment such as is in force In MANY
cities, should prohibit driving past standing
street cars going in the same direction oy
cep, or Broad Street The present reeulo
ton on the subject is almost incapable Of
enforcement
Formerly, the use Of sirens and other ex-
lraordthary noise making devices on auto
mobl'es was prohibited by the Chief OF Police
NOW ShrickinG blasts from ingenious and
mucous instruments sound with impuniiy all
over the city. IL would greatly conserve I'M
comfort Of the public ii The subcommittee
were to recommend an ordinance diyestinr
the 'hiei oi Police of discretion in the solec-
uoh OF sounds. and reasonably restricting the
use ot warning signals.
with these changes and some minor amend
mehts, the Police Department would be i'm a
posi''0h !" guard the public far more ef-
die Of laws
With the inaugural ball about 10 be rein.
stated there is likely To he IA bun market
III rented dress suits"