Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-09-08
MOTORISTS SHOULD KNOW RULES
OF TRAFFIC; THEY MUST COOPERATE
sy HENRY JAY CASE


manner: is seldom seen in court &c
answerFa complaint made against him
by. a traffic policeman.
| 5. The Commercial Chauffeur-Gen
orally operates vehicles OF high ton
mage, his occupation taking him &c
all parts Of the city into localities
! where there are no traffic policemen
his vehicle, not geared for speed and
generally heavily laden and cumber
some, becomes a most dangerous wea
pom in the hands Of a careless or in
competent operator; owner generally
carries accident insurance, for the rea
son that when persons are run over
or struck the results are not infre
quently fatal. Police officers Of ex
perience in handling traffic, knowing
the great weight and size of these
commercial vehicles, and notwith
standing the fact that many Of them
are equipped with governors to reg
ulate their speed, believe that the av
erage driver operating this type OF
motor truck does not have a control
of it commensurate with its POSSIBLE
tiles of destroying human life.
6. The Taxi Chauffeur-Ready at al
most any time, in return for a small
tip to take a chance to accommodate
passenger; is out for the money
and in many cases doesn't care how
he obtains it; doesn't welcome police
regulations; Is not over-solicitous OF
the rights of others: and the type is
perhaps the worst source of trouble
to policemen.
Z. The New and inexperienced
Chauffeur-Although many have good
judgment, and ultimately become pro.
ficient in driving their cars, the lar
gest percentage of them, while still
wholly incompetent, venture into con
gested sections of the city, creating
bad tangles, causing delay, and, not
infrequently, most hazardous situa,
tions.
For pedestrians, the following is a
fair classification by traffic police
men:
/. The woman shopper who risks
her life crossing the street to save
five seconds and then wastes 25 times
that at the very first shop window.
2. The independent citizen who des
liberately walks into the midst Of fast
moving traffic and defies any driver
to run over him.
lieves the middle Of the street is a
reading room and acts accordingly.
4. The adventurous small boy who
prefers to bicycle or roller skates on
heavy traffic streets rather than on
play streets set aside for him.
5. Boys and girls who play tag in
and out of swift moving traffic.
6. The average, everyday, law-abid-
ing citizen, who is always willing to
do what is right and through that
willingness is invariably imposed upon
by drivers.
New York City has 700 policemen
in the traffic division, and in this
an increasingly large number Of Sun
ny Jims. But to piece out this man.
power, the department has to use a
number Of devices Some Of them
are: 81.
1. Safety Isles-These spaces, usual.
ly diamond shaped, are marked off
with traffic stanchions. The isles are
usually 80 feet long by feet wide,
placed in the center Of roadways, at
street intersections, and at locations
where traffic is not heavy enough to
necessitate the stationing of a traffic
officer. They provide a refuge for
pedestrians crossing the street and
divide traffic by keeping vehicles to
the right and require people to walk
in one direction and necessitate their
looking in only one direction. ..s
2. Car Stop Safety Zones-These
spaces are formed by traffic stan.
chions placed on roadways having
surface car tracks, particularly at
transfer points. These zones add
greatly to the safety Of persons wait
ing to board or alight from cars and
at the same time permit vehicles to
keep moving. They also save time
In, the operation of the cars.
J. Keep to the Right Signs-These
are, placed at street intersections.
where traffic is light but where reg
ulation Is necessary to compel driv-
ers to keep to the right and not to
cut crossings short. ..-. H.
4. Semaphore System - This is
known as the 5-block system and is
today in effect on Fifth avenue be.
tween 18th and 5Sth streets. The
avenue between these two streets is
divided into zones, q semaphore being
located at each street intersection.
Each zone is controlled from the mas.