Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-06
TRAFFIC LIGHTS
TIMING CHANGED
Confusion of First Trial
Brings Modification on Six
teenth Street.

Washington's new automatic traffic
signal system having been positively
turned on yesterday as predicted,
thanks to the co-opera ton of the Dis
trict commissioners. Traffic Director
EIdridge. Supt. of Police Hesse, Fire
Chief Watson and veritable army
of police, the city settled back today
and breathed easily. as though moth
ing had happened.
AS a matter of fact. except for con
siderable confusion that had been
frankly anticipated b. traffic author
tiles, nothing particular had occurred.
The first few hours were the hard
est. and as result of the lessons
learned during the inaugural test yes
terday evening a number of changes
were put into effect today, especially
with regard to the timing vi the sig
nails.
Changes Made in Time.
The first change was TO lercthen
the signal intervals to 80 seconds each
way during the rush hour This morn
ing, as compared with the 45-second
intervals of yesterdays evening rush
hour. when northbound congestion
was marked. After observing The Of
feet of the new timing this morning
! further change was ordered, giving
Sixteenth street traffic full minute in
tervals and cross traffic but Is sec
ondS.
Some of the confusion which was
noticeable as the lights got under
way yesterday afternoon. it must be
said. resulted from the dubious aid
rendered by the police force. 1t
seems that some of Maj. Hesse's com
mand did not know about the lights
until ordered to explain them to
motorists, and in d number OF in
stances they guessed wrong.
At Sixteenth and l. streets. for en-
ample, one traffic officer was telling
motorists to make right turns on the
red signal. That. of course. was the
way the officer had been taught to
make right turns ever since he first
learned TO wave his arms and he
hadn't seen the papers lately. any
way. Just Il slight error on his part.
that's all.
Dual Task Confusing.
The presence of so many traffic
officers. both in the streets iand on
the sidelines, appeared also TO have
disconcertinG effect on the drivers.
watched. but so must the signal lights
up there on the post. and as it was
impracticable to watch both at once
there arose. now and then. embar-
RAISING predicaments for conscientious
drivers.
The new left-turn rule caused some
trouble among the motorists who had
not taken the trouble to familiarize
themselves with the many announce
ments made in the press regarding the
operation of the new system, but the
great majority of drivers did this bit
OF maneuverinS like veterans
The casual spectator was forced to
the conclusion that women were the
worst offenders yesterday and TODAY.
Many of them, like some of the DO
licemen, did not know about the
IlShts, 1t became apparent, and fear
leSsly they drove their cars UP, down
and across Sixteenth street in their
customary way. There were plenty
of men. too, who have lot to learn.
They would pull into the center of
the intersection and make their left
turns at the first opportunity. re.
CARELESS of the rule that required them
to pull to the right on the green sig.
nal and wait in front of standing
cross traffic until the green light
flashed them to complete the turn.
Scott Circle proved to be the big
problem yesterday and today. Pend
ing the completion of the signals fac
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