The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-09-24
SUBMIT PLAN TO
BADGER CITIES
Plan for Uniform Traffic
Laws to be Submitted
to Cities.
EXPECT COOPERATION

Madison, Wis. - Recon-
mendations for uniform highway traf-
fc regulations, prepared by special
committee in cooperation with the
state highway commission, will be
submitted within the next three
months to local authorities and organ
izations composed Of persons interest
ed in traffic conditions.
]. T, Donaghey, state highway en-
gineer, said today that details of the
recommendations would not be an
nounced until after they had been
submitted to town, city and county of
fcials, the League of Wisconsin NUM-
CAPABILITIES, and others for suggestions
and approval. If the proposals are
approved, the highway commission
contemplates making them effective
after next January 1.
Among other things, an increase in
speed limits on arterial highways will
be proposed. 1t Is designed to speed
up traffic to avoid congestion. Care
full driving at minimum speed of %
miles an Lour, and maximum of 40
miles on arterial highways outside of
cities, and a maximum of rs miles on
arteria1 streets in cities is suggested.
Amendment of the speed laws would
be necessary to make the proposal eff
fective, but cooperation among the
communities in accomplishing this
change will be sought if the sugges-
ton is approved, Mr.. Donaghey said.
To Seek Uniformity.
Uniformity in signs and markers, as
well as automatic traffic signals, also
will be sought. This program includes
use of yellow letters on a black back
ground for warning signs, as recon-
mended by a national conference at
Washington recently. 1t was indicat-
ed that four unit signal devices were
favored by a majority of the special
committee in Wisconsin for use in all
cities having automatic traffic regu-
lations.
Routing of traffic by means if des-
ignated streets and highways will be
asked at the meetings, and the rules
will be explained.
VIII Print Regulations.
The regulations eventually worked
out under the commissions program
will be printed and distributed for
the information of persons using the
highways. f. N. Maurer has been des-
ignated as traffic engineer of the COM
mission and enforcement of the regu-
lations will be one of his chief duties.
Mr., Donaghey stressed the import
ance of the new program to the motor
ing public, and the effort made to
work with local communities in formu-
lating rules satisfactory to the ma
jority.
"The state highway commission
was authorized by the last legislature
to regulate arterial highway and
street signs, and was given other SUI
pervisory functions" he said. eve
realized that while we could build and
maintain roads, we did not know as
much about traffic regulations as the
local authorities who are directly con-
cerned with them. Therefore, we in
vited their cooperation, and at the
meeting held here on July %, we re-
ceived their advice. The meeting also
appointed the committee of seven men
to work with us in formulating a sat
isfactory program.
Ask for Cooperation.
eve would rather obtain co-opera-
tive adoption and enforcement of the
regulations, than force them on locali-
ties. Uniform enforcement will be
great advantage to motorists, especial
ly tourists, who will obtain more
pleasure from using the highways if
they find the same practices in effect
everywhere.
The enforcement of speed regula-
tions, it was suggested at the recent
conference here between the commit
tee and state road officials that traffic
officers should enforce speed regula-
tions by speeding up the slow drivers
and forcing the drivers who exceed the
limits to reduce their speed.