Evening star., 1923-11-20


the regulations. He said that circum-
stances should always count in the
arrest of a man for speeding.
Mr.. Henry introduced the two wit
neSseS to the committee and said that
he believed that the National Capital
should have a model set of traffic reg
ulationS so that every other city in
the country could pattern after them.
He said that in his opinion Washing
ton had all the necessary physical
features to make traffic regulation
easy.
Need OF Survey.
Col. Walden emphasized the need
of an adequate survey of local traf-
fic conditions before any changes are
made.
There are. however" he said, "a
great many opportunities here for eX-
pediency in dealing with traffic"
At the request of Inspector Head
ley, who was present at the hearing,
DIR. Inches was recalled and ques-
toned on the time required to put
new parking regulations into effect
in Detroit.
DR.. Inches said that as soon as
sign was put up by the police de-
law and that the only notification
to motorists besides the sign was
through the press.
Inspector Headley brought out this
point to demonstrate to the commit
tee the necessity of repeating the
thirty -day-notice law in effect here.
Questioned In regard to one-way
streets. Col. Walden reiterated DIR.
Inches statement as to their value.
"One-way streets" he said. are OF
the greatest benefit in congested
traffic. especially on narrow streets,
where lanes Of travel would conflict
If allowed to go both ways"
Concrete SupgeStiDnS for lettering
traffic conditions We're made at the
afternoon session of the Senate inveSti-
eating committee yesterday by George
c. Kelcey, traffic engineer of Elizabeth,
\. j.. and W. Pearce Rayner, chairman
of the traffic committee of the Wash
ington Board of Trade
Both men have made intensive
study of traffic conditions in various
cities and gave the committee the
result of'their experiences.
Advocating the boulevard stop sys-
tenn for handling traffic, Mr.. Kelcey
pointed out to the committee that
properly regulated speed is not
menace but a factor of safety in
moving a large number of vehicles.
The witness asserted that with bet
ter brakes on automobiles quick stops
were possible, which would allow for
higher speed.
Believes Speed Safe.
THAT explains very important
point" said Senator Ball. chairman
of the committee. Because it GER
tainly is not speed that is the sole
cause of accidents. Speed, under
proper conditions. is safe"
Mr.. Kelcey made several recommen-
dations which might be tried out in the
District. Chief among them was the
boulevard stop or arterial highway sys-
TEN, with a raised speed limit or where
all vehicles on nterSecting streets must
come to a full stop before entering the
arterial highway. He also suggested
that block system of traffic control
might be tried on certain streets in
Washington, such as Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. 18th street and Massachusetts
avenue.
On the question of one-way streets.
Mr.. kelcey said that in his opinion
it was a perfectly fair way to regu-
late traffic. but that one-way streets
should be properly synchronized and
adhere as far as possible to rotary
traffic.
Backs Safety Zones.
Safety zones for the street car
riding public, he pointed out, were
zones, he said, the speed of automo-
bile traffic is regulated solely by the
speed of the street cars on account
Of the regulation prohibiting motor
lists from passing, standing street
system might be inaugurated by the
street car companies to facilitate the
collecting of fares SO that the length
Of time consumed in stopping and
starting might be lessened.
He also suggested staggered hours
for government clerks so as to relieve
CONGESTION in the morning and evening.
Senator Ball. however. said that he did
not think Congress would adopt this
plan.
Mr.. Kelcey strongly urged upon the
committee the regulation which would
require all motorists to report their
accidents eide IS coz In Connecticut n1;es he
motorist who failed to do SO, as the
police were able to check up on these
accidents whenever a motorist attempt
ed to have his car repaired. This regu-
lation did much to stimulate careful
driving.
cipline for motorists and pedestrians
alike" said Mr.. Kelley with each
class moving in it's proper channel,
accidents are cut to the minimum"
Criticizes Pedestrians.
In this connection Senator Ball re-
marked that pedestrians do not rec
ognize traffic officers signals here the
way they do in other cities.
Mr.. Rayner presented to the COM
mittee a comprehensive report on
traffic conditions here. which was
adopted by the Board of
port goes into every phase of traffic
and enforcement.
Chief among the recommendation
of the committee is that for the re-
tention of one-way streets and the
addition of four more of this type of
highway, to facilitate Union station
travel Mr.. Rayner pointed out that
one-yay streets are safest because
pedestrians have to look only in one
direction; that they. expedite traffic
because their capacity for handling
volume is almost double that Of two
way streets. and that they provide
the same amount of parking space
with easier access to the left-hand
side of the street.
He told the committee that many
Of the regulations in force at the
present time were not adequately en-
forced. Portions of this list follow:
"The police, unless regularly as
signed to traffic duty, generally pass
over traffic offenses because they do
not care to spend the time in court.
Mr.. Rayner also pointed out that
slow-moving vehicles do not keep to
the right-hand turn; that the right
turn at intersections where traffic Of
hcers are stationed is not being made
by signal as the regulations require;
that vehicles park abreast and are
left unattended in the congested Sec
tions of the city; that there Is much
parking between street car loading
platforms and the curb; that cars
park in the reserved unloading space
in the middle of the block, and that
time for business to be conducted in
the congested section. He strongly
urged upon the committee the imme-
diate establishment Of one-hour
parking limit.
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