Evening star., 1925-05-10
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.


Variations in traffic regulations for
the most part are the result of varia-
tions in local conditions, not a result
of the failure of local authorities to
recognize the value Of a more stand
ardized system of motor regulations,
This is the conclusion reached by
many traffic experts and officials who
have toured the country with a view
10 discovering why all cities, towns
and States do not follow the same
traffic pattern.
According to the Investigators, To-
raj authorities, and even the motorists
and pedestrians themselves. are de-
tending their peculiar methods of
traffic direction as being most logical
for the particular conditions to be
met with. In almost every case where
investigators have studied conditions
the local authorities were found to be
doing the best they could under the
circumstances. Only in very few
instances was it possible to effect the
adoption of another city's methods
without serious complications.
This is said to be changing the
whole picture of uniformity of motor
vehicle regulations ald laws. One of
the most brilliant minds on automo-
bile regulation made the statement
that uniformity is a five.year job.
That was said three years ago. The
latest thought is that until all cities
are rebuilt to fit the one pattern uni
formity may never be possible.
Criticism is Answered.
Considerable criticism is made of
the rule in Philadelphia whereby traf-
fic that desires to make a left turn
must pull up to the right curb to
await instructions. Motorists reach
ing Philadelphia from other cities
where the rule is to keep to the CEN
ter of the street when about to turn
left loudly condemn the strange prac-
tice and accuse the Philadelphia au-
thorities of blocking the progress Of
Standardization.
Any one who drives around Phila-
delphia for a few days, however, will
discover that the rule is rather loEi-
cal for the conditions and that keep
ing to the center of the street would
not do at all.
Philadelphia is city of street car
lines. Tracks are everywhere, on the
ones, Broad street excepted. To keep
to the center. therefore, would mean
to keep in the way Of street cars.
This would tie up traffic into serious
tangie.
Because it is necessary for q city
TO be somewhat consistent in its traffic
rules, the right curb preliminariee
to the left turn are required even
where street car lines are not found
Again, logic is found.
Philadelphia may adopt the rather
universal practice OF keeping to the
center when, and il. bus trapsporta-
ton replaces surface street car lines,
because then the center of the street
will be free and the busses will be
making their stops at the right-hand
curb.
Some Use Bell System.
Some cities are using q bell system
1t the centers. When the alarm rings
every motor vehicle stops. pedestrians
then going any way they please in
safety. This seems like a strange
tourists and traffic students want to
rule it out instantly. But what are
the facts?
Many of these towns or small cities
have regular hubs for centers. Trafic
is heavy. and it is impossible to con-
troll traffic with lights or semaphofes
Placing several traffic directors at the
various points of the circle seems to
compncate matters still more. Thus
there is only one answer: All vehicu-
lar traffic or all pedestrian traffic
alternately are warned by the sound
ing of bell alarm.
Local conditions dictate local traffic
regulations, experts are finding. Los
Angeles is not Washington. nor is
Washington traffic regulations appli-
cable to Los Angeles. True, there are
certain traffic features of any city
which could well be adopted by the
traffic authorities of every other city,
but local regulations. no matter how
peculiar. cannot be dropped until the
peculiarit1es Of local conditions are re-
moved.
Complain at Wait.
4 number of motorists who have
$aken their cars to Atlantic City have
been annoyed at what they first feel to
be an error in the method of directing