Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-12-26
SAFETY ON STREETS
INTERESTS OFFICIALS
Probable Immediate And Rigid
Traffic Regulations Will
Be Enforced
MAYOR FAvoRS ACTION


Since the accident of Saturday
afternoon. when a driver of an auto
truck ran into a cart in front of the
Advertiser building. demolishing the
cart and the porch of the building and
seriously injuring two persons, there
has been much talk of proper traffic
regulations for this, and other sec
tions of the city.
One of the results of this discus
sion has been. to bring ou. the fact
that for many months the street COM
mittee of the city council has had au-
thority to place traffic posts at the
head of streets leading into Church
Circle. and also at the intersection of
Prince George street, and Maryland
avenue, and other busy corners of the
city, according to a statement made by
Mayor James f. Strange this morning.
Mayor Strange further said that an
ordinance proposed by himself about
two years ago, and which would have
had most beneficial effect upon con-
ditions, was defeated However. the
mayor said that he was still impressed
with the Importance of the matter and
the danger of continuance of present
conditions, and intended to lay the
matter before the council at its next
meeting.
The main points about the proposed
ordinance. which will undoubtedly be
included in another measure. were the
Nf ..rfF
at certain points. The ordinance pro-
vided tina. the portion of Church cir
Gle between the heads OF West and
Northwest streets should be used only
by vehicles going west, and that
School street should be used only by
traffic going east. Both OF these por-
tions of thoroughfares are very narrow
and the source of great danger
The effect of this ordinance would
be to require all vehicles coming out
of West street to Church circle TO turn
to the right and going around the south
side of the circle to reach the poin. to
which they we're going. This would
require but little extra travelling for
any vehicle, and would promote the
general safety it is claimed. Likewise.
vehicles desiring TO come from State
circle to Church circle would not be
permitted to come through School
street, one of the narrowest streets in
the ci y, but would have to turn down
Bladen street, and go through 1t and
College avenue.
1t is thought that these regulations,
toge her with the placing of suitable
traffic posts at he heads of West,
Duke of Gloucester, Main and School
streets, would practically solve the
problem for this, the most dangerous
sec ion of the streets, while other
posts could be placed in other por-
tions of the city where needed.
As stated, no further legislation is
necessary for the placing of the traffic
posts, as this is only a method of en-
forcing the already existing law based
upon the old rule of the road, keep to
the right" Incidentally. Alderman
Elmer r. Parkinson, chairman of the
street commit zee, stated that he be-
! lieved thoroughly in the proposition
to confine School street and the por-
ton OF Church circle to one-way
traffic.
The feeling is general throughout
the city that further traffic regulation
in the form of municipal legislation is
necessary, and also the most rigid en-
forcement of sta e and municipal laws
in the matter. There are owners and
drivers Of vehicles in the city who are
notoriously careless i'm their handling
of their machines. Many habitually
drive at a reckless pace and cut corn
ers on the wrong side when they can
get away with IT, II is only a matter
of time, if this continues. in the opin-
ion of citizens, when someone viii
lose life through some other per-
sons gross recklessness.
The accident on Saturday afternoon
served as a warning, 1t is pointed out,
and il the warning is taken, even more
serious results may be averted On
ALI sides, it is felt that prompt and
effec.iv action should be taken to
remedy a condition which will surely
result disastrously if allowed to con-
tinue.