Evening star., 1925-08-04
BOULEVARD RULES
UPSET ALL RIGHTS
OF CROSS TRAFFIC
Cars on Main Artery Always
Have Precedence, Mol
Ter Warns.
"ST0P" MEANS WAIT
TILL WAY is CLEAR
Police Are Ordered to Arrest All
Motorists Who Are Caught
Violating Order.

In order To clear UP misunder.
standing that seems to have developed
in the minds Of many motorists re
EardinE the boulevard highways, Col.
|. {. Moller, engineer in the trafic
office. declared today traffic on the
boulevard streets has the right of way
over all vehicles coming out of the
cross streets.
Col. Moller further stated that in
collisions occurring at intersections of
boulevard highways the burden of
proof would be on the driver emerg-
ing from the side street. 1t was
brought 10 Col. Moller's notice today
that some drivers are laboring under
the impression that if they comply
with the stop sign by bringing their
car to a halt they may proceed to
take the right of way if they are on
the right of vehicle approaching the
intersection on the boulevard
Must Wait for Clear Way.
Col. Moller said this is misconcep-
ton of the boulevard system. 1t is
provided in the regulation. he said,
that traffic on the boulevard has the
rightof-way regardless of the right
ofway rule. which applies at ordinary
intersections
The traffic engineer further suggest
ed today that motorists could assist
TO bring about full compliance with
the boulevard stop system by report
ing fragrant violations by machines
proceeding across a boulevard without
needing the stop sign
Inspector Brown. commander Of the
Traffic Bureau. has instructed his
motor cycle squad to keep a particular
watch on the boulevard intersections
while they are performing their regu-
lar duties in order to catch motorists
who disregard the stop signs.
Painters from the traffic shop are
continuing as rapidly as possible TO
paint the warning at all of the inter-
sections on the % thoroughfares that
were officially designated as boulevard
highways Saturday.
No Sign, No Arrest.
Inspector Brown has announced
that where the signs have not yet
been painted, motorists will not be
arrested for failing TO stop, but the
moment the word stop has been paint
ed at an intersection the rule is in
effect and that rule will be in effect
when q driver passes a sign.
Street car loading platforms are
desirable in the downtown congested
section. where the streets are crowd.
ed, but they are not so necessary
/ in other parts of the city. in the
opinion of Engineer Commissioner
Bell, discussing the question which
has arisen as TO the relative merits
of the platform and the safety zone
marked by white lines.
Col. Bell, chairman of the Utilities
Commission, has not decided, how
ever. what action should be taken on
the letter of the Capital Traction Co
objecting to the painting of safety
zones for passengers on Fourteenth
street from X to streets
Believes Powers Ample.
The Engineer Commissioner said he
had referred the letter of the trac-
tion company to Corporation Counsel
Stephens for a legal opinion on the
point raised by the company.
Although he has not had time to
study the legal phases of the uues-
! ton, Mr.. Stephens expressed the be
lief today that the commission has
ample authority to direct the Capital
Traction Co. to establ safety zones
for passengers by painting white lines
on streets. Mr.. Stephens said the
question would be one of affording
protection for passengers waiting for
a car and that he thought it was well
within the powers of the commission.
John H. Hanna, vice president Of
, the company, stated today that he Ia
desirous of cooperating with Trafic
| Director Eldridge in every way pos
sible, but that he cannot bring him
self to feel that a safety zone of white
lines without platform or stanchions
is safe for passengers.
Records were not available today to
show the exact number of times
vehicles have collided with platforms
and stanchions erected in lieu of plat
forms.
Useless In Snow.
Mr. Hanna made the point, how
ever, that if automobiles have collided
with platforms and broken stanchions
at other places they would also strike
passengers standing in a painted
area without platform or stanchions
The vice president Of the traction
company also said that in Winter
time a snowfall would obiiterate the
painted lines If no stanchions are
! used.
| Traffic Director Eldridge said yes
! terday it was his information that
| iron traffc buttons were to be used
| at the ends of safety zones marked by
white lines. Mr.. Hanna does not be-
! lieve these traffic buttons would afford
I sufficient protection. Mr.. Hanna de-
clarsd today mis- objection to the paint
/ ed safety zones was not intended as
/ fight against the plans of the traf-
| fico officials, but that he felt strongly
the need for greater protection than IL
provided by white lines without stan
| DIatfoyr,,S