The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-03-13

GREEN: Flashing light; indicates /
a cross road or moving traffic danger.
In such cases the motorist would ma
turally slow down, sound the horn /
and look for moving traffic.
YELLOW Flashing light: will be
found at curves, and cautions the mo-
torist to proceed with care.
| RED Flashing light: is the signal
of extreme danger. These will be
found at railroad crossings and re-
| quire the motorist to use the utmost
caution, and if necessary, STOP,
LOOK and LISTEN.
In addition to the flashing light,
which is visible for several miles,
these public safeguards have been
constructed to be of the greatest SER
vice to the motorist. The panel facing
the road shows the route number and
mileage, and direction to important
destinations on the road. On the
rear of the signal head appears the
wording "Public Safeguard" and the
state emblem, which is of historical
and educational value. This makes
| these lighthouses an open guide book
along the road and a milestone for
the tourist.
Another interesting feature which
has been worked out is the plan under
which they have been erected. AS
stated above, the exact location of
lighthouses is under the control of
the Highway Commission or other
local highway officials, so that the
public service function of the signal
is absolutely safeguarded.
A color flash similar to the high
way lighthouse has been worked out
for the smaller city traffic beacon.
They are generally placed in the mid
die of the street and carry the cap
ton "Slow to Right" Traffic is being
routed and definite lanes established
for its different types. Traffic bea-
cons are also used to indicate one way
streets, safety zones, street car stops
and lanes of traffic in public squares
and approaches to parks. Thus the
motorist in time will have the same
protection of signals and routing in
city streets as is employed by the
ocean captain.
To indicate the benefits of this
most complete traffic transformation
that has probably ever taken place in
the world would be to cite the number
OF street and highway accidents
which have reached appalling proper
tons. Any safety device which is
operated by man carries with it mans
liability to error, and with one 50 di-
rccted there will always be slipups
and accidents. Every tangled wreck
and injured body cries out for some
infallible guidance and protection
that will be above the limits of
human frailty. Already in districts
where the silent watch-tower of
Dalen has been established accidents
have decreased eighty-five per cent.
Traffic engineers have definitely
demonstrated that distance is not to
be figured in point of miles but in
point of time. The speed with which
one may travel from place to place is
governed by the slowest moving We
hicles which obstruct the path. The
vision for mans travel of the future
is not only to keep vehicles moving,
but to have them always directed by
intelligent and unering signals. The
public will be educated to hold the
railroad crossing as loaded gun, al
ways dangerous and not merely to
be respected while it is going off OF
the train is passing.
Within our cities we will accept as
commonplace through boulevards and
one-way streets which will compare
to our railroad express routes, always
regulated by traffic signals.
In the country viii be broad high
ways which will link up the leading
centers of distribution, and the traf-
fic on these streets and highways will
be regulated and controlled by traffic
signals and their colored flashing
lights.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -3c2czr