The Washington times., 1923-01-31
APPROVES
TRAFFIC
RULES
Committee Agrees on All But
Three Items Held of Minor
importance.

With the exception of three
minor details, the special Highway
Traffic Regulation Committee,
headed by William p. Emo, has
unanimously approved the general
highway traffic regulations which
are proposed for enactment in the
District.
Differences UnimpOrtant.
None of these three items of con-
troversy," Chairman Emo advises the
District Commissioners in a report
on the fourth meeting of the special
committee, "are essential and should
not be considered at the expense of
delay"
The traffic sections over which
there is disagreement follow:
Whether the present fifteen-foot
stop behind street cars shall be re-
duced to eight feet or not.
Whether motorists will be per-
mitted to pass to the left with due
caution after having observed traffic
from opposite direction" in an emer-
gency.
Whether or not to give the street
motorist is operating the lightest and
most quickly diverted machine.
Asks For 100000 Copies.
Submitting printed pamphlets Of
the regulations as approved by the
special committee. Chairman Emo
asks that authorization be given
for the printing in two colors Of
10000 copies for distribution
throughout the District.
There are about $4,000 teachers
and pupils in the schools of the
District" Mr.. Emo points out in
his letter to the District Commits
sioners, land we should have 1907
900 folders for them.
THE Police Department has esti-
mated that we need about the same
number for drivers, local and
transient, leaving 100000 for gen
eral distribution, or total OF
100000. There should also be pro-
vided $500 Of the placards for
schools, police stations, fire houses.
garages, stables, gasoline stations
and at the entrance Of public build
ings."
Places Cost at 1894.
Chairman Emo gives the total
cost as 1924 and says that the
placards can be delivered five days
after they are ordered and that
the folders can be ready for distri
button very shortly after this time.
"The report submitted" Chair
man Emo impresses. covers the
first step-the foundation-of traf
Hic regulations. The essence Of the
work is speed, for the progress
towards safety cannot be begun
without it. The various steps out
lined, in the plan should follow
with due diligence.
"If the adoption of the general
Highway traffic regulations and
their distribution in folder form and
placard as described in the plan
submitted be carried out with Off
cial approval the result should be,
in the District of Columbia, where
politics are not supposed to stand
in the way, even more satisfactory
than they have proven themselves
in other cities where their effects
have been more rapid than was gen
orally expected before they were
tried.
Follows Approved Methods.
ne SeIItIdl leSuld anu
method of distribution and placard-
ing are in no way an experiment,
but the result of proven experience
in this country and in France also
where they were adopted in their
then form as the official regulations
for Paris. on June 10, 1912"
Chairman Emo points out that all
of the recommendations are within
the power of the District Commits
sioners to carry into effect without
recourse to or change of old laws.
or the passing of new laws or
ordinances with the possible ex-
ception of article 10 Of the pro-
posed plan. Article 10 is very i'm
portant since it's provision would
gradually eliminate unfit drivers
who already have permits to drive.
No other method can accomplish
this result except to require every
driver who already has a permit
to pass a new examination and this
would be too cumbersome and eX-
pensiVe to warrant consideration"