The Washington times., 1922-06-10

|. IND0RSEDFOR
USE ON AUTOS
Traffic Experts Opposed to
Changing Red Tall Lamps
=, 70 yellow. ~

Automobile tail lights will con.
tinue' to be red and not yellow. That
fact was made very clear IN the brief
discussion on the suggestion for such
q change at the meeting last week
OF lighting experts, railroad, motor
vehicle and highway officials and
representatives of many" engineering
and industrial organizations. The
conference. which was attended by
more than fifty delegates. was con-
Quoted under the auspices Of the
American Engineering Standards
Committee and II marked the first
definite step taken In this country
toward a scientific study of the
methods by which traffic signals of
all kinds may be simplified and
standardized In the interests OF per.
sonal safety.
Avery broad program was adopted
for consideration by a technical com.
mittee,, which will represent the
Views OF motor, steam and electric
railroad Interests in the country. The
suggestion was lately advanced that
yellow be used for the rear light on
Q motor vehicle on the ground that
the red light, now universally used,
10 confusing because II does not 30
intensively signify danger and stop
as In the case Of red in railroad serv.
Ice. The chief, argument for = the
change was made bySa representa-.
tive Of, the American Railway Asso-
ciation.,
Opposes Yellow Light.
The delegate from the American
Electric Railway Association opposed
the idea. saying:
The automobile Is a free and fast
moving vehicle and as an =. ever.
present and needed warning of
danger, We are opposed to the use
OF yellow for such purpose. The
argument that red lights are con.
fusing is not good and In the inter
ests OF safe operation should not be
advanced"
Major Alden L. McMurtry, con.
sulting engineer Of the Connecticut
Motor Vehicle Department, said
very trenchantly that he did NOT
believe the Legisla ture OF that State
would adopt such a change. even
though an engineering, body should
favor II. and he expressed doubt II
any state would agree TO o change.
Railroad signals are standardized.
They have been worked out through
the experience Of many years and
the steam railroad representative
said they were primarily for the
railroad man and not for the public.
Lights carried by automobiles are
primarily for the public, for even
the operator Of a motor car becomes
one Of the public in his necessary
observance Of lights for safety. The
red as the tail light Of the motor
car is as thoroughly standardized
and understood for It's particular
function as the red for danger on
the railroad. 1t Is used for that
purpose all over the world. 1t is
mandatory in all the States OF this
country. While not indicating
danger 50 incisively as on the rail-
road. 1t does carry a psychological
warning that would be weakened
stituted. The sharp differences Of
opinion brought out by other than
motor interests were an evidence
that the automobile red tail light
may be accepted as a standard in its
particular field and In this respect
II is not in serious conflict win
the. demand for more general and
very necessary traffic signal
uniformity.
. Need TO Understand Signals.
Traffic signal uniformity Is one Of
the largest jobs that have been put
up To the body Of engineers and
others interested in the subject.
With the enormous development OF
highway motor traffic there has
been evolved a multiplicity Of signals
both for day and night. To under.
stand them properly is vitality acc
essary for public safety. and the
use of different forms and methods
Of signals and lights in different
localities leads te confusion and
danger The special standards com.
rnittee now in charge Of the matter
will seek to eliminate these differ!
ences and recommend uniform types
for all sorts Of day and night traffic
signals. The need for uniformity
has recently been shown in the
action Of the New England highway
commissioners in adopting a uni