Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.

Variation of municipal traffic ordi-
nances, the greatest bane of the motor
tourist, this week will become the OBJ.
jective of nationwide movement for
which progress in the direction of sue.
cessful elimination of the existing
chaos generally is foreseen.
At present the motorist may depend
to some extent upon his good Judg.
ment to keep within the bounds of
traffic regulations on the State high
ways over which he travels. Driving
at a reasonable speed in the main
should prevent any unfortunate
clashes with the authorities. But
when the same motorist reaches towns
and cities his difficulties begin, for it
is the diversity of regulations in the
communities of the country which of.
fers motoIdom its greatest touring
annoyance.
Local traffic ordinances in hundreds
of municipalities throughout the
United States differ so greatly that it
is impossible for any motorist to be.
come familiar with the maze of regu-
lations, so often radically different in
towns which are but a few miles
apart. And, as experts point out, q
condition of this sort becomes pro.
gressively worse. To overcome it,
they say, some very special effort
must be made, and it is to combat the
variation and confusion which exists
that movement looking toward uni.
form municipal traffic ordinances has
been launched.
Committee Meets July 6.
Absolute uniformity, naturally, Is
not anticipated even by it's most en-
thusiastic advocates, since local con-
ditions vary too greatly. But it is
hoped, and confidently so, that at
least the fundamental features of mu-
nicipal traffic codes will be the same
everywhere In the not far distant
future.
The elimination of this movement
is the preliminary meeting of a COM
mittee on municipal traffic ordinance
which is to be held in Detroit, Mich,
July 6. This committee, of which
William 4. Metzger, well known figure
in the automotive world, is chairman,
will be composed of representative
men from all walks of life, including,
besides leaders in the automobile in
dustry, educators, railroad men, play
ground opponents, police officials and
others.
Uniformity of municipal traffic ordi.
nanceS is one of the aims which the
National Conference on Street and
Highway Safety-popularly known as
the Hoover Conference.-The definitely
advocated, and the meeting of this
committee in Detroit is a direct out
growth of the activities of the con-
ference. One of the recommenda-
tions Of the committee on uniformity
of laws and regulations of the confer
once emphasized the necessity for uni
formity Of municipal as well as State
laws and regulations.
Growing Need Cited.
That there Is an ever-growing need
for similar ordinances regulating traf-
fic in the municipalities of the coun-
try cannot be gainsaid Motorists as
well as pedestrians have voiced this
demand, which now is moving toward
fulflllment.
1t Is well known that the motorist
away from home suffers most in cities
and towns because of his lack of
knowledge Of the local regulations.
On the highways of any State he feels
relatively sure that he is not breaking
any laws so long as he travels at not
too great speed and exercises discre-
ton while driving. But in the munic-
qualities 1t is radically different
story.
What person has not seen automo-
bi.es with foreign" license tags at
tempting to make a left turn in ex-
actly that manner to which the police
as well as local motorists object most
OF all? How many motorists. driving
in strange town, have unwittingly
violated traffic regulations willie ad-
herring strictly to those that Tgovern
their home city?
No motQrist is anxious to tie up
traffic. and perhaps have an overzeal-
n0liNQf1NQ hallnyN q
as he drives in a strange city. For
that reason it Is certain that every mo-
torist will hail with genuine satisfac-
ton the active beginning of the estab-
li3hment of uniform ordinances in
every community of the country.
IL the motorist from northern New
York knows that when he is driving
through Salina, kans.. all he has TO
do 70 observe the law II to follow out