New Britain herald., 1924-04-11

their time and expense in the long run. am sure that the number of ac- cidents would be greatly reduced. Many Traffic Cops
 Every city now maintains a large force of officers whose entire time and energy while on duty is devoted to the regulation of traffic In the en- deavor to keep traffic moving, to re- lieve congestion and prevent acci- dents as far as it is possible to do so. Ii is absolutely necessary to have traffic officers assigned to the busy in- tersections and crosswaIks in the business districts, and we try to se- leet our tueffic officers, giving partic- ular attention to their alertness and efficiency in regulating traffic and courtesy to the public. These offi- cers are given special instruction on this class of work, and particular at tention is given to the standardization of signals and to traffic problems which may occur on their posts, in order that they may be able to meet much emergencies should they arise. These officers are taught not to be autocratIc, for the public are human as well as they are, and city IS us- ually judged by the visiting motorist public through the persons they come in contact with. and they usually first look to q police officer for directions or information in regard to our cities.
 Congestion of traffic very often lrlau n fro rafnS and although we have ordinances cov- ering such emergencies, the motor vehicle driving public do not take the prompt measures necessary in order that the fire apparatus may have clear and .unobstructed passage. This IS the age of haste. and if a driver things he can beat the fire apparatus to the next corner, some will take the chance If there is no officer in sight.
 Our State Police association of Connecticut, an organization com posed of police officers from all the cities and towns throughout this state which have organized police de- partments. has given this subject of traffic control considerable thought and study, and We have finally se- cured the adoption of a uniform sys- tenn of traffic signs for use in all the cities throughout this state, to desig- nate streets or sections of streets which are retricted for parking and direction of travel. so that visiting motorists in our cities will find the sane system of signals in use in all the cities of Connecticut, and they will know from the color of the sign just what the restrictions are on the streets they may pass through or on which they wish to park. Wherever possible. thcse signs will be found fastened in vertical position on poles, in order that a driver may know where to look for them and readily find the information he is seeking.
 Our association has also given con- siderable time to the subject of school traffic, and recommended that the school authorities share more of the responsibility. by teaching the chill dren the danger of running and play ing in the streets. and recommending that the school teachers, Boy Scouts and the larger school boys be used for the purpose of keeping the chill dren on the sidewalks in the vicinity of the schools, and instructing the children that they must cross the streets only at the regularly designat-' cd crosswalks. This is very essen- tinl part of child's education, for surely the safeguarding of life and limb is of as much importance, If not more, than their other studies.
 When the subject was taken up with the school authorities in Hart ford it was given whole-hearted and enthusiastic support, and the follow ing working agreement for the pre- vention of traffic difficulties in con- neetion with school children was worked out.
 Recommendations
 1. That the principal of each school will talk with the police offi- COTS on duty at nearby crossings on problems of school traffic.
 2. That traffic officers will report to the principal of the school involved cases where the carelossness or will fulness. of individual children is caus- ing the officers difficulty.
 3. That each school will be pro- vided by the board of education with a blueprint map of the streets of