The Washington herald., 1922-12-29
EMO PROPOSES
STEPS TOWARD
IDEAL SYSTEM
International Authority Tells
Commissioners Accidents in
City Could Be Reduced Half
MANY CHANGES ARE ASKED
Expert Would Alter Method of
Obtaining Licenses and Also
Overhaul the Entire Code

Revision OF the DlStrlcC trdluC
code, affecting almost every de-
tail, was urged yesterday by
William Phelps Emo, interna-
tional traffic authority and chair
man of the traffic committee re-
Gently appointed by the District
Commissioners.
This sweeping recommendation
was made during an address be-
fore the subcommittee of the
public order committee of the
Washington Board of Trade.
CHANGES PROPOSED.
The corrections specified were:
Changes in the method by which
drivers obtain permits; correction OF
the parking laws, and general
overhauling of the traffic regula-
tions.
''In outlining plans for improve
ment of the traffic situation mere,
to do is to adopt general regulations
as a foundation for all which S
to follow. The next steps. in my
opinion. are to study the question
of ranking and parking y vehicles
-
DDS employed here: to use paint
freely in marking crosswalks, pro-
hibited, danger and safety zones oG
scientific principles; to repaint signs.
standards and dummy cops accord
ing to approved methods. The
method of obtaining drivers per
mits and licenses should be revised
as well as everything else in the
District of Columbia that pertains
to traffic, including The standard
izatiOn of police signals.
Mr.. Emo recommended changes
in the curb lines and car tracks,
! and the erection of raised isles OF
safety where they will not interfere
with fire apparatus. He gave Il
history of traffic regulations. trac-
ing their development to the prs
ent time.
CONDUCIVE TO CARELESSNESS.
Elimination OF the regulation Civ
ing the right-of-way to the motorist
on the right was strongly urged
by committee members. 1t was de-
clared to be conductive to careless
ness and the cause of numerous
accidents. 1t was asserted that it
would be better to have no right
situation entirely to the judgment
of motorists. Fire Chief George
Watson said that in the event of
an accident, with the present sys-
| TEN. claim can be made by one of
the parties that he had the right
of-way. and having the law on his
side, win out in court. even though
the crash was caused by sheer care
lessness on his part.
Much discussion also was held
on the speeding problem. some IA
voring elimination of speed laws.
1t was pointed out that under the
present regulations three different
rates of speed are legal within a
radius of one-half mile, making con-
fusion and adding to traffic Off
GERS difficulties.
Arrest of all violators Of every
traffic regulation was urged by Will
lam E. Luckett, who stated that
lit Is the only way to cut down
the number of accidents and deaths
due to careless and reckless driv.
ing"
HEADLIGHT STATUTE.
That the District of Columbia is
the only area in the Northeastern
part OF the United States having
no adequate headlight law was
stated by w. Pearce Rayner, chair
man of the subcommittee. 1t is un-
derstood that a recommendation
along the following lines will be
adopted by the body soon:
"On account of the insufficient
| lighting of many of our streets, the
adoption Of scientific headlight
regulation based on the principle of
the adoption of lenses or other de-
flecting devices for headlights which
will defect the beam to an approx.
mate height of forty-two inches
from the ground at seventy-five feet
in front Of the car. which will per.
nit the use of sufficient light. with.
out glare, to protect pedestrians and
motorists alike. is urged The head.
light law of the State of Connect.
cut is a model law. developed from
scientific Investigations of the So.
ciety of Illuminating Engineers, and
we ask the adoption of the same
law for the District"
This recommendation was made
several years ago by the Public
Order Committee of the Board Of
Trade.