Evening star., 1927-11-20
ENGINEERING COUNCIL URGES
TRAFFIC CONTROL UNIFORMITY
Standardization of Automatic Signal
Equipment Also Recommended-Wide
Difference In Regulation Cited.

use the words Co and 'Stop' respec.
lively on the green and red lenses"
continues the report. "The word
Caution is most frequently used on
the amber or yellow lens. 1t ia be-
lieved that such words should be used
unless the relative positions of the
lights also denote their color in stand.
ard manner or unless the shape Of the
lens denotes the color also. Prefer.
ably a standard lettering, position and
shape should be used.
THE majority of the cities report
the use of special fire signal with
various means Of control. Divided re-
lay control from the fire department
is believed to be the best principle
to use, so that the whole system need
not be put on the fire signals IL FIRE
apparatus would cross the signal sys-
TEN at one or two points only. Flash.
ing red lights in all directions is be-
lieved to be the best fire signal.
Practically all cities report that
they permit right turns on the Co
signal only. 1t is believed that all
right turns should be so restricted.
Left.Hand Turn Method.
Where left-hand turns are permit.
ted, the most satisfactory method of
making them probably is as follows
Approach turn-intersection from right,
go TO right of lane of traffic on Co
signal and complete turn to left when
Co signal is given in new direction.
Presence of a traffic officer or unusual
conditions such as irregular intersec-
tions, short blocks, ETC., may make
exceptions necessary.
Electric flashing beacons are be-
lieved to be most satisfactory for the
protection of street car zones In
most cases they are installed and
operated by the city government;
where other beacons are necessary
throughout the city, electric flashing
equipment apparently is the most
used and affords the best protection.
Places that may require such protec-
ton are safety islands, street inter
sections, railroad crossings, left turns,
angle intersections, wide streets and
other dangerous points.
Light protection for traffic officers
Is used in approximately half OF the
cities. They are believed to be yalu-
able and necessary protection for
traffic officers
'The table on types of signal sup
ports shows the wide variation in the
use Of many kinds Of support both be-
tween cities and within cities. The
general picture is shown by the fact
that 20 cities use one or more of IL
different types Of support a total of
10 times.
''Only % cities use a single type Of
support exclusive. while 4S cities use
one other type. Some cities are
known to use as many as 10 different
kinds of supports. There is not such
a bad variation in the location of sig
nf rin
the city or as between cities, although
many cities use various locations, so
that there is no standard place to
which the motorist may look for the
signal which is controlling his move
ments.
No Standard for Equipment.
Neither has there been a standard
on which the cities have made their
purchases nor on which the manu-.
facturer has sold the equipment. This
is a bad practice. for 1t is made harder
for the motorist to obey the traffic
regulations, thereby causing addition.
al hazard on the streets.
ut also is wasteful. The table show
ing the distribution of types Of sup.
ports indicates those which are most
favored in the city and those which
by experience have obvious faults and
are seldom if ever used.
THE four-way cable suspension car
rying the lights in the center of the
intersection is used by most cities,
while the four-way post at the center
of the intersection holds second place.
The next most popular equipment is
the one-way horizontal or vertical
bracket placed on the four far corners.
These two, horizontal and vertical,
give the preferable systems. Ten
cities each, or a total of 20 cities,
use them. 1t also is noted that many
of the cities having the largest mum.
ber of intersections controlled by sig.
mails use this type Of equipment.
THE height of traffic towers OBJ
viously depends upon local conditions
and the location of the signals. The
distance Of supports from the curb
varies widely. although most of the
cities reporting place them at the
curb. In every case the height and
location should be so adjusted as to
make the signal visible to the traffic
10 be controlled"