Evening star., 1923-01-06
UNIFORM TRAFFIC
RULESARE URGED
Accidents and Confusion
Could Be Cut if Regulations
Coincide, Says Emo.

Uniform traffic regulations through
out the country were advocated by
William Phelps Emo. head of the
Washington Safety Council, in an
address on Engineering Aspects Of
Traffic" before members of the So
ciety of Automotive Engineers at the
Cosmos Club last night.
1T is beginning to be realized that
the police departments or boards Of
aldermen of the various cities and
towns should not be allowed to make
their own general highway traffic
regulations" said Mr.. Emo. who
declared that the confusion and lack
Of uniformity had brought about a
much larger number of accidents
than If the rules were uniform.
Mr.. Emo urged that the officer in
for his natural ability. open mind
edness and willingness to experiment.
The Council of National Defense code
of general highway traffic fegula-
tions. which would be suitable for
the largest city and smallest village.
stated that it would be impossible to
get absolute uniformity throughout
the country, because of special regu-
lations that might be needed in some
localities.
Praises Rotary System.
The rotary system of handling traf-
fic al circles and intersections was
highly praised by Mr.. Emo. who es-
pecially mentioned the circles and
Massachusetts, avenue and 18th street
and Pennsylvania avenue as some of
the many spots IN Washington where
this particular system would prove
itself effective.
Referring to the traffic situation
In New York city. Mr.. Emo pointed
out that alterations which could
have been made a few years ago at
reasonable cost would now cost
enormous sums. Little traffic regu-
lation folders for distribution to the
public, as well as concise rules placed
where the public can easily see them
and the examining of drivers before
Issuing them licenses were some OF
the things suggested by Mr.. Emo.
Declaring that the United States
the coordination of all availa bic
transportation and which would. in
an emergency that threatened to
paralyze the industry and ira nspor-
tation of the country, insure tie peo-
pie Of the country food. fuel and
hCScSSlllcS VI III6, MAI.
erd Taylor OF the Quartermaster
Corps explained the details Of the
plan to the members of the society.
Recalling the success of centraliz-
ing the rdotor transport system of the
A. Z. F. in France during the war,
Maj. Taylor explained that in order
to have an efficient and effective
highway transport system in this
country II would be necessary 10
have the control of this means of
communication centralized.
Provides for Nine Areas.
The country under the Army plan
transport areas. the same as the mill
tary corps areas. These areas would
then be organized each with a cen
trail control. which in turn would be
governed from single center, pos
sibly Washington. In each OF the
one ten-mile radius unit for city
motor transport collection and de-
livery and the other a fifty-mile
radius for country transport motor
! service. The question of repairs and
maintenance of the trucks is also
! taken care of in the formation of the
various central controls in the diff
ferent areas. The various units es-
tablished in the areas would be plac.
ed with relation to a system of rail
roads that would be merged for oper-
alton in commerce or during an
emergency.
The value of the cooperation of a
the railroads of the country and their
use in relieving the railroads of eX-
pensive short hauls was pointed out
by Maj Taylor.
Col F. H Pope presided as chair
man of the meeting.