Evening star., 1923-11-08
Member Of the Associated Press.
The Traffic Needs of Washington.

Thus far in the inquiry conducted
by a Senate subcommittee into the
traffic conditions Of the District many
suggestions have been made and many
more will doubtless be advanced be-
fore the inquiry closes to the end of
improving the situation. That situa-
ton is undoubtedly bad. 1t must be
corrected. The hope is not that
Washington will be made as safe in
respect to the use of it's streets as
other cities, leaving much to be de-
sired even on attaining that average
condition, but that it should become
actually safe beyond comparison. In
other words, the desire should be and
doubtless is to make the Capital as
safe as possible, with the utmost con-
veniences for traffic.
Three elements enter into this mat
ter, model traffic code to give the
maximum of facility for all street
users an adequate police force to ad-
minister this code and a traffic court
to dispose of infractions of the rules.
1t has been urged that in order to
obtain model and satisfactory traffic
code a study of the situation should
be made by traffic engineers capable
of seeing the case broadly, with
knowledge of remedies for present and
prospective evils. The present code, it
is contended, is not ideal. Certain con-
ditions prevail that are only compro-
missed by the rules and that remain
~ serious handicaps and sources Of
danger. The parking situation par
ticularly is unsatisfactory, streets are
congested with parked cars that mar
row the driveways, obscure the vision
of drivers and Of pedestrians and raise
the chances of accident. This ques-
ton particularly requires study, with
a view to provision of a remedy if
one can be found.
The question of one-way streets is
brought forth at the hearing, with
opinions voiced on both sides. At
present a series of one-way streets
prevails by Commissioners order, but
some doubt has been expressed as to
their utility and safety, while equally
strong opinions are advanced in their
support. This again is a question that
might well be referred to expert au-
thority.
With a perfect traffic code, with
careful street users, with thorough
understanding Of the rules and perfect
observance of them, there would be
little need of an enforcement organiza-
traffic court. But, unfortunately,
however sound the rules and however
general the observance, there will re.
main, probably always, a percentage
of violation, willful or ignorant, call
ing for detection and punishment. 1t
is not necessary to wait for the model
code of rules to give the District the
means of enforcement and punish
ment, which are educational in their
effect to a large degree. More traffic
police should be provided promptly.
The need Of an enlarged force has
quiry. Likewise, the need Of a traffic
court so organized as to give the
quickest and fullest possible hearing
to all cases and to insire the most
effective application Of the law has
been established. At present the so
called Traffic Court is but a branch
Of the Police Court, sitting in special
session to hear this particular class
Of cases. 1t does not meet the re-
quirements Of the situation. A spe-
cific traffic court likewise can be
created quickly while waiting for the
perfected code of rules.
Washington, with its broad, straight
streets, it's comparative lack Of heavy
industrial traffic, it's relative freedom
from gridironing car tracks, is ideally
conditioned for street safety. A good
code of traffic laws, thoroughly en-
forced through an adequate police
organization and promptly working
traffic court, will yield that result.