Evening star., 1924-08-10
DECLARES TRAFFIC
IS IMPROVING HERE
w. A. 7. A. Holds Increasing
Number of Cars Is Respon-
sibIe for Conditions.

That the increasing number of
motor cars on the streets and high
ways is making it easier to drive, is
the somewhat startling statement
made in a recent report to the
Washington Automotive Trade AS
sociation by a traffic export working
in conjunction with the organizations
traffic committee.
According to the report, the
psychology of the whole thing is
such that each driver is coming TO
consider himself unit in traffic, and
! simply falls in with the scheme of
following the leader. The expert
stated that a lot of beginners got
along better in congestion than they
did on the open road where there
was nothing in their way.
Realizing the novelty OF this view
point, the w. A. T. A. traffic COM
mittee explains the high points as
follows:
Motorists who used to wonder
whether they could make a left turn
at certain crossings. or what they
should do under certain conditions.
now have their problems convent
entity solved by simply doing what
the man ahead does.
Solved BY Low Speed.
Much of the driving is in low gear.
where cars are easily controlled and
where stopping is a comparatively
simple matter. The whole thing is
simplified with engines that will
operate at very low speed in high
gear.
Even the delays in traffic are
help to the nervous driver. Each
wait gives him an opportunity to
think what he should do next This
committee obtained a report from
driver who was asked to try out
several different makes of cars with
varying gear shifts. He found that
portunlty thoroughly to familiarize
himself with the changes.
IL mas been brought to our atten-
tlon several times that trafic was
oeslnnlng to regulate itself, and our
recent investigations of rorditions
mere IN Washington have convinced US
that this is aSSuredly the trend. II
Seems that traffic sets its own mace
and renders good driving merely a
matter of falling in line.
Must keep In Step"
Ihis is particularly noticeable on
the highways leading into the CITY at
times when traffic is heaviest. Drivers
@ Wno Keep IN llne and operate as a
unit OF such traffic seldom have any
olfticulty, whereas persons who try
to cut in. speed up or lag behind
are the chief complains The very
increase in this traffic renders it
more dangerous and more difficult to
De out of step and is thus a valu-
aole aid to a more simplified traffic.
Looking back over a period OF
years, it is readily seen that il must
have been more difficult TO drive over
many of our streets and highways
when there were half as many cars
as 1t is today. When drivers are
puzzled as to what to do, when to do
It. and are further confused by sur
prises at every turn, there is natur-
ally more difficulty in getting about.
AT present, each driver becomes a
sort of cog in a great machine, and
the resulting order is far from the
great problem that 1t has been
depicted.
The W. A. T. a. can look forward
hopefully TO even greater BENEFITS
from traffic. Matters are, of course.
not ideal, and never will be-. but
when there is different attitude to-
ward traffic it will doubtless be
looked upon as benefit. Even
should it be greatly simplified, motor
dom will have to recognize its value
in teaching motorists the Importance
of order in the movement and con-
troll of cars"