Evening journal., 1916-04-17
UNIFORMITY THE END SOUGHT.

UNIFORMITY THE END SOUGHT.
IN HE Street Traffic Committee OF the Safety First
Il Federation Of America will meet in Cincinnati on
April 20. It will take steps looking to the establish
ment OF uniform system of signs and signals for use
throughout the United States in the regulation street
traffic. Wilmington officials should manifest than
passing interest in that meeting. Our city should
derive all possible benefit from the standard code Of
traffic regulations which has been prepared by
OF the foremost traffic experts in our country and
important part OF which is uniform system of signs
and signals. Such system. it is felt, will still fur
ther minimize the possibility OF street accidents.
II is the plan TO have all municipalities in the
United States and Canada adopt such signs and sig
nails thereby preventing confusion and complications
the part OF travellers and tourists who, under
listing conditions find wide embarrassing and dan
variation in the systems in in neghborng
cities The favorable reception already given to the
standard code Of traffic regulations compiled by
the Street Traffic committee last December leads to
the hope that a uniform system OF signs and signals
will meet with equal favor from public officials hav
ing under their jurisdiction the regulation of street
traffic
AS indicating the results accomplished thus far to
standardze traffic regulations. Il is stated that the
side stop for street cars, recommended by the
Safety First Federation has been adopted in upwards
Of sixty cities This regulation has been in effect in
the city OF New York for year and shows de-
crease II per accidents involving the opera
tion OF street cars, with decrease in the number OF
accidents totalng 6,367 compared to the previous
year
The headlight glare regulation recommended by the
Safety First Federation has been adopted in many
cities including St Louis, Boston, New Orleans Cleve-
land and indianapolis and an ordinance with SINH
lar provisions has been introduced in the New York
Board Of Aldermen. Wilmington also is wrestling
with that phase of the problem
The street traffic committee has not devoted all Of
haa
cerned Itself also with the necessity for better
lang pedestrians. particularly at congested street
corners, urging the adoption OF rules providing that
pedestrians shall street only at regular cross
ing and not in the middle Of a block To better safe
guard persons at street crossings. II has been sug
gesed that no vehcuar traffic should be allowed to
move until the way s clear In several localities such
rules are now in effect and have proven their value
by a noteworthy decrease in the number of accidents
and fatalities.
special meeting Of the board of directors Of the
Federation will be held at the same time to consider
various subjects including plan for conducting a
general educational campaign in the public schools,
churches and motion picture theatres in the important
cities with the view TO reducing the number of street
accidents and fatalities safety first film to be
made under the auspices of the Safety First Federation
showing the most common form OF accidents and how
to prevent their recurrence will be OF the fea-
lures Of this campaign which will include the dis
tributon Of the primer Safety First For Children
published by the Federation, thousands of copies of
which have been placed among school children dur
| ing the last few months.
! Among the other subjects to be discussed is the
inauguration OF nationwide campaign against tres
passing upon railroad property, to be launched under
the direction OF the committee trunk line railroads
Of the Federation to be appointed at this meeting.
II will be seen. therefore, that the meeting will he
purposeful one. and that Wilmngtonians have a
direct and an acute interest in all the subjects that
will come up for discussion and action.