The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-04-08
GOLDEN RULE IS
SOLUTION Of
TRAFFIC
Auto Manufacturer Says Lack
OF Consideration Causes
Street Problem
BY A. b. G. HARDY,
President. Ode Motor works, vice
President. General MotOrsp Mem
Der. Traffic Planning and
Safety Committee

800 AE14AAO k0mmHU& ana
Safety Committee
n. A. O. O.
The problem Of regulating the
TRAFFIC OF automotivo vehicles in the
United States is matter that calls
FOR the wisest consideration and the
most energetic measures. It IL well
within the probabilities that by the
END or 1924 there will be $4,000, 900
| passenger cars and trucks under
license. Whether moving or stand
Ing still. in traffic or parked, the
| automobile Is bound to be an out.
standing problem; It has assumed so
large place in modern life that 1t
aTrects the lives OF every member OF
| every community.
Automobiles constitute a problem,
largely because the drivers seat 10
occupied by a. human being; because
he Is human, he is never 100 per cent
alert, and seldom concerned pri-
nnarily with the convenience or the
safety OF his fellow -driver-or. OF
the pedestrian.
Lack Of Understanding.
Human lack Of understanding,
without any question, is responsible
for the majority of accidents in traf-
fic. Authority can never success
fully undertake the entire enforce
ment of traffic regulations, no mat.
ter how wise a law may be, or how
Flgidly enforced, 1t is beneficial only
insofar as 1t is obeyed. Laws are
enforced only when they are broken,
and enforcement costs m0ney-in the
case OF automobile traffic regula-
ton, very large sums Of money
Factors Of safety in manufacture
and the enforcement Of the law
throw many Of the possible safe
guards about foot and vehicular traf-
fic, but factors OF safety can be fac
tored out by carelessness or abuse
and the law does not invariably con-
troll the ignorant. the careless, the
reckless or the criminal driver.
The Millennium of safety for all
will come when every driver con-
siders his neighbor as himself.
whether walking or driving; and
when every pedestrian considers
his neighbor as himself, whether
Stringent Measures Imperative.
In the meantime, while the mil
lenium is on the way-and 1t looks
like a pretty long way-stringent
measures are imperative to keep
the safety problem from getting
altogether out of hand. Since the
Golden Rule IL at present only
partially in operation, the average
pedestrian regards the motorist as
his natural enemy and the average
motorist regards the pedestrian az
an unnecessary handicap.
Both points Of view are wrong.
of course. but they can be corrected
only by mutual understanding and
sympathy. The time IL rapidly
approaching when everyone Will
own a car and a pedestrian Will
be merely a temporarily dismounteo
car owner. Perhaps by that time
there will be a better understand
ing all around.
Il n generally admitted that
MANY of our present streets and
highways, originally built for in
freuuent horse-driven traffic. are
Inadequate for handling steady
stream of automotive traffic.
economical and safe traffic move
ment depends upon a carefully
thought out relation between
through roads and connecting
roads. their traffic and their cost.
and between trunk and FEEDER
The traffic problem Is altogether
too complex to be solved by any
formula or any one SET OF regu.
Iations; each community naturally
presents its own set Of conditions.
each of which has a definite under
wing cause. After study has
located the cause, steps can be
taken to remove 1t, or alter it,
with beneficial effect on the traffic.
THE approach to success in handling
traffic successfully-that 10 to say.
with speed and sarety-calls for
the co-ordinated activity OF prac-
tically every department In tine
community. Traffic is not a de-
partmental problem merely: II Is
rather one Of administration.