Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-10
HAVE TRAFFIC
LAWS UNIFORM
New York Police Commits
sioner Champion Of Stand
ardization.

Arthur Woods, police commissioner
OF New York city, is heartily in favor
OF standardiz.ng Tie basic principles
Of traffic regulation for cities. -
II is his firm belief that any gem
cral legislation along this line would
have to be so elastic as to give local
city bodies IN control Of traffic the
power to meet pc 'ular local cOndi-
tions. In fact, the problem U.s. IN many
ways. similar to that confronting the
association of mayors of the cities of
the state Of New York, who are en-
dcavoring to provide for uniform city
charter The mayors have come
strongly to the conclusion that their
legislation. 10 be effective. should only
outline a sort ot general skeleton Of
municipal charter which would CON
trol the cssenti9ls Of municipal gov
ornment but permit the adoption Of
such minor local regulations as cCndi-
TONS seemed to demand.
The simpler we get these a. u. C.'s
Of traffic regulation the less accidents
we are going to have and out-of-town
motorists would never be confused by
strange ana varied methods, he says.
There is no question that "A differ
cree in elementary traffic regulations
brings about chaotic conditions on the
streets.
Helping the Cause.
Unconsciously, perhaps. the New
York police department. hns been help
ing along the cause Of standardizl-
tion by loaning officers Of its traffic
divisions 20 cities that apply for as
sistaucc and guarantee the expenses
,f such officers. In most Of these
a. At0N.N
New York city mas been put into ef-
feet and found satisfactory. OF course
there are regional peculiaritie5 in al
most every city that must have local
management. but the motorist has the
.eht ia find the fundamental rcSula-
tions the means OF signaling and
normal driving-everywhe the same
Commissioner Woods thinks it is or
the greatest Importance that those
undertaking 20 draft standardized
code should he in substantial accord
with regard to tie problem TO he met.
In New York city tho authorities
are IN position intelligently TO tackle
this problem because of the fact that
data in connection with every street
accident are most carefully tabulated.
For example, the records show the
time Of accident nature Of the vehicle
condition Cf the machinery. age or
condition Of the weather. whether o!
not the accident was caused by viola
tion Of existing traffic regulations and
other points having a vital bearing
upon the underlying causes of street
accidents.
The Safety First Federation OF
America at its last national CONFER
,ncc recommended that the New YORK
police department form of recording
aI "a |
this suggestion is acted upon to any
considerable degree. long step to-
ward 4 rational Standardization OF
traffic rules will have been made.
The physical construction of the
island OF Manhattan and the fact mat,
generally speaking, the business area
is toward the southerly portion OF the
Island and the residential area Is TO
ward tie northorly portion, results
cutie naturally. in causing the heaN
lest flow OF traffic to be in southerly
direction in the morning ana IN
northerly direction in the afternoon;
This situation has practically forceu
the incorporation into the law oi a
provision 10 the effect that ctht'
Things being equal. vohlcle hoVihs
in n northerly or southerly direction
ru one Of the main thorofares shall
have the right Of way over Vehici'
roing I'm an easterly or westerly dl-
lection. II would he practically 'nl-
rossible to conduct the city's business
Ituon anV other basis yet IN - "
s,lbsttntial variance with almost nm
ycrsallv common law ana statutory
provision 10 the general effect tha'
when two vehicles meet at the iEter
section OF two streets, neither vehicit
las the right of way over the otnei
solely because of TIE direction of th'
compass In which it happens to u,
travelling. IIhis Is mcnuoned as ont
OF the many local conditions that 'oulI
not te governed by nara ana las
standardized rule.-Motor Age