Evening star., 1924-09-12
THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM
BY ERNEST GREENWOOD
Highway safetv

the traffic behind that the driver is
going to do something. This later
idea Is certainly the most simple
method Of signaling. and there is
some merit in the claim that If the
driver In the rear knows that the car
ahead Is going to do something-that
Is, turn in one direction or the other
or stop--he should be alert and have
his car under absolute control. AT
least there can be no confusion with
a single signal.
Uniformity, Of course, eliminates all
alibis. If we had the same laws and
rules and regulations not only in all
States but in all cities of every State
the visiting motorist could never
plead ignorance. He never could
say, that isn't the way they do it
in my town" He could never excuse
his ignorance by claiming lack of
proper direction and control signs on
entering State or town. He could
not expect to get off with a warning
because Of his ignorance. With a
uniform Scode he would have to ex-
pect the same penalties as the resi-
dent motorist.
X X *k
If we should have uniformity in
laws. rules and regulations in the
hand signals of the driver we should
also have uniformity in the signals of
the traffic officer. The whistle or
hand signal of the traffic officer in
ST. Louis, Mo, should be as familiar
to the tourist from Portland, Greg,
as 1t is to the ST. Louis truck driver.
The taxicab driver in Atlanta, Ca,
obtaining job in Detroit, Mich,
should need no instruction in the
code or the police department of the
latter city. The same thing is true
or traffic control systems which in
clude tower and semaphore signaling
Uniformity of color signals, or color
codes as they are called, is also i'm
portant. Condemnation of the use Of
the color red for any purpose what
soever. except as a command to come
to a full stop. is heard on all sides
Railroads never use this color except
for that purpose. To the motorist it
now seems to mean nothing more
than keep to the left and run around
1t. 1t is no more a signal of immi-
nent danger than the twinkle of an
oil lamp in the window Of a. farm
house. Traffic experts urging uni
formity of colors insist that some
other color be used for various pur-
poses. as, for example. amber for the
rear lights OF motor vehicles.
X X X
tion signs are being adopted in many
States and are great comfort to the
motorist. They are usually of an out
standing design and color combina-
tion that cannot be confused with
the many advertising signs infesting
our highways. The use of direction
signs for advertising purposes is uni
Versally condemned and with tho in
coming of the standard sign erected
by the States many national adver-
tisers are disseminating the use of
private signs
The question of uniformity and
Standardization runs through every
phase of the traffic problem. Uni
formity OF method of reporting acci-
dents seems to be imperative. Uni
formity of method in licensing drivers
Is being urged. State officials, par
ticularly in the Eastern States, are
recognizing it's value, and the organ
izatlon known as the Eastern Con-
ference of Motor Vehicle Commission
ers is travelling rapidly in this direc-
tion. States are modelling law after
law which has been found to be sue
cessful in reducing the accident rate
In other States. Cities are adoptinp
expedients which have relieved con-
gestion in other cities. The Inter-
national Association of Police Chiefs
meets in convention each year and
each year methods Of handling traffic
occupy more and more time on the
convention program. Great organiza-
tons such as the National Automobile
Chamber of Commerce, the American
Railway Association, the American n
Automobile Association and the Ma
tional Safety Council are all preach
ing uniformity. Just as long as the
present multitude of complex laws
ana street and highway practices
exist the whole trafic situation can
not help but be a more or less helm
less mess from the standpoint of the
motoriSt
Copyright. 1924. by Current News Fea-
lures, Inc.)