Evening star., 1925-08-27
ELDR|DCE ASSERTS
CITIZEN ADVISORS
SANCTIONED CODE
Replies to Criticisms by Say
ing Changes Were Result
of Observation.
DENIES NEW TRAFFIC
RULES ARE COMPLICATED
Holds Turning Plan Is Worthy of
Trial-Boulevard Stops
Limited to Ten.

Traffic Director NJ. o. Eldridge in a
public statement today lifted from
his own shoulders to those of "a com
mittee of representative citizens at
least part of the drumfire of criticism
that is falling upon his Office for over
regulation" and Inconsistency"
Answering these barbed criticisms,
Mr.. Eldridge declared that the traffic
code now in force was prepared in
conference with "a committee of rep
resentative citizens" and that no
changes had been made since except
a few minor ones that became essen
tial after the code was carefully OBJ
served in actual operation.
The committee to which Mr. Ed
ridge referred, and which he was
regarded as indicating should be held
as accountable as himself for the
present situation, was, it was taken
to mean, the advisory council of busi-
ness and professional men who worked
with him for several weeks during
preparation of the new traffic code.
Among the members of this board
trade bodies.
Denies Code Is Complex.
Mr.. Eldridge denied the regulations
as they now stand are complicated
and took exception to charges that his
Office has changed them so frequently
it has become difficult for motorists TO
keep up with the Kaleidoscope traffic
program recently. He admitted a con-
siderable number of changes had been
made to adjust parking hours at GER
tain places, but these, he said, were
clearly indicated by signs.
The traffic director emphatically
voiced opposition to listing the time
limit for parking in each and every
street in the District of Columbia in
the traffic code, but he added he had
later found it essential to meet legal
Limitation to do this. Otherwise, he
said, the parking restrictions could
not have been enforced in court.
Mr.. Eldridge vigorously defended
the proposal to try-out the newly
suggested turning system at Four
! teenth street and Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. He said his department would
continue preparations for putting
this system in force at the one inter
section, but the test will not begin
until Col. I. c. Moller, traffic engi-
neer, returns to Washington from
training camp.
Says System Merits Chance.
1.-The new turning system is GER
tainly worthy of fair trial." said Mr..
Eldridge. 1T is in operation in
Cleveland, Columbus and other cities
of Ohio, in Philadelphia, Pa, and in
Atlantic City. 1t is not an expert
ment, but plan that has been sue
cessful elsewhere"
| The traffic director said if it works
| smoothly at Fourteenth and Pennsy-
! lvania avenue he will favor putting
it into effect at all policed intersec-
| tions. If it does not work salts
| factorily it will not be retained, he
said
| Mr.. Eldrfdge said the proposed
method of turning is essential for the
protection of pedestrians at busy cor
ners. Briefly, it requires vehicles
| planning to turn to draw in near the
curb before reaching the intersection.
Trials Suggested Changes.
! Referring to other changes in the
/ traffic code. Mr.. Eldridge said most of
| them had been suggested as a result
of studying cases on trial in Traffic
! Court.
The number of boulevard highways
at which traffic must stop before cross
! ing will be limited to 10, instead of %,
/ the traffic director announced, follow
! ing conference with Inspector E. W.
| Brown of the Police Traffic Bureau.
The revised list of boulevard-stop
| highways actually includes more than
| 10 streets. but where one street is
| continuation of another Mr. Eldridge
is CHASING them as one boulevard.
| Mr.. Eldridge and Inspector Brown
! not only agreed today to reduce the
! number of boulevards, but they de-
( cided to eliminate stop signs in the
downtown section by having north and
south boulevards start outside the con-
| gested area.
| Because of the unusual width of
Pennsylvania avenue and Thirteenth
| street in the downtown section, the
traffic bureau announced today that
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