Evening star., 1924-12-17
DUTY OF MOTOR|ST
TO KNOW OWN CITY
Automotive Trade kssocia-
tion Cites Way for Simplify
ing Traffic Conditions.

Washington motorists have a duty
to perform In seeing their own city
first" If they are eager to cooperate
with the police and traff1c authorities
in simplifying traffic conditions in the
District, according TO the traffic COM
mittee of the Washington Automotive
Trade Association.
In the opinion of the local auto
mobile dealers, a large percentage
of congestion is due to the average
drivers unfamiliarity with the city
and his consequent distnclination TO
try new" streets and less-traveled
routes.
Great Aid to Driver.
Through a more intimate knowl-
edge of streets and the general lay
out of the city the average driver
could get about the city on his busi-
ness far easier than he does today,
the committee contends, and the les
sened congestion on the principal
routes would make 1t far easier for
those who must travel the more CEN
tralized routes,
Touching upon this phase OF the
Districts congestion problem, the
Washington Automotive Trade Asso-
citation committees report reads. In
part: ,.--...-.-.
THE traffic investigating commit
tee has been amazed at the unfamtl-
iarity with the city as displayed by
persons who have lived here for
years. In driving downtown they
have formed the habit of using GER
tain streets. the same ones from day
to day, and they seem to have lost
sight of the fact that there are many
other ways to reach their destination
with less annoyance.
THE annoyance and inconvenience
of congestion is something that has
grown upon a number of local mo-
torists so gradually that they do not
regard this traffic stumbling block as
quite the serious matter that II is.
The answer to this would be to ac-
quaint them with the lesser travelled
routes from one section of the city
TO another, thus emphasizing the diff
ference and showing them clearly
what has come upon them by reason
of their own disinclinatlon to keep
traffic simpllfed.
'ln recommending other streets and
routes TO many of the Washington
motorists who were queried In the
course of our recent investigation It
was surprising to note the number of
local people who did not know where
certain streets are located. And
many motorists who seemed to have
a vague recollection OF some of the
streets this committee recommended
raised the question as to whether
the routes ran all the way Many
motorists were still thinking of some
OF the Districts streets as they were
two or three years ago.
Would Relieve Congestion.
Congestion would be automatically
relieved IL all WashingtonianS would
make II a point to rediscoyer their
city, noting in particular how many
new ways there are of reaching de-
sired points.
Sunday morning is an excellent
time for locating new routes Here
traffic is at low ebb in every section
of the city, and the motorist Is at
liberty to browse about and discover
where some OF the unknown streets
lead. A new route worked out on
Sunday may bring a new satisfaction
on Monday.
Modern congestion in tH@> central
business section and along the prInci-
pal routes that lead to 1t is merely
repetition of the old story of the
moth and the flame. The answer is
to bring into focus the lesser used
sections of the city and spread the
fame until 1t will slnge and not burn
"One trouble with our traffic today
is that in looking over the city too
many motorists seem to have over
looked it."