Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
CAPITOL GROUND LIGHT SIGNALS
PROVE PUZZLE TO MOTORISTS
Requirement of Turning to Left Only on Red Light
Causes Constant Jams and Few Drivers Ne
gotiate Situation SUCCESSFULLY

The Washington motorist, who still
Is struggling to adapt himself to the
new traffic regulations, has run afoul
the latest device-the automatic sig
nails. An observer who yesterday
afternoon kept a score on the at
| tempts of drivers to negotiate the
tri-color signal lights which have been
| installed at the intersection of roads
on the south side Of the Capitol
| Grounds was forced to check almost
| complete failure against the thousands
who made the try.
The attempt Of the drivers to obey
the flashing of the red, green and
amber lights resulted in amusement
to a crowd of spectators who gathered
to witness the operation of the sig
nal post, and much to the chagrin
Of the two traffic officers stationed
there to assist the motorists pass the
unfeeling and memorable lights.
Keep Broad Smiles.
The broad smiles which officers
forced themselves to wear. however.
did much to ease the situation, but
even then many a driver was seen
muttering imprecations as he escaped
the tolls of the system.
The crux of the whole difficulty
which befuddled the mtorists. it was
demonstrated. was that left hand
turns must he made when the red
light stared the driver in the face.
Make left turns on the red light"
the officers shouted as a line of cars
halted on the crosswalk before the
signal.
Mr.. Motorist who headed the line
misunderstood the cry, however, and
started hesitatingly ahead, making
unmeaning motions with his hand all
| the while. He wanted to go straight
| ahead. AS soon as the officer saw
| this he ran toward him. calling on
| him to stop and back back into place
A startled. quizzical expression swept
over the drivers face.
Machines i'm Jam.
| Meanwhile a score of cars were
| damned behind Mr.. Motorist No.
| and were honking their horns
| viciously.
Then the hooded lights of the sig
nal post winked mysteriously from
red to yellow and then to green.
! 'All right. you can go ahead now"
the officer told Mr.. Motorist No. /.
and that puzzled individual sputtered
away in no time.
| But as the next machine passed
| the signal post he attempted to turn
| left into the wide roadway before
the east front of the Capitol. Thus
| he attempted to make left turn
with the green light shining toward
| him.
Whoa yelled both officers. you
| can't do that. Go straight ahead"
{ And motorist No. was shooed out
the southeast exit Of the grounds.
Turmoil in Rush Hour.
But by that time the signals again
| chanc ed and the long. curying road
| leading up Capitol Hill from the west
was lined with cars. The 4;30 rush
| hour was on
The incidents reported above were
repeated with more and more turmoil
as the height Of the congestion ap-
| preached. With no sign to warn
them, and not having yet learned the
| system. the motorists demonstrated
| that they were afraid to make the
left hand turns against the red light
"a thing forbidden in virtually every
| other intersection in the District.
| Not more than a dozen machines
during an hours careful observation,