Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-04
HELD AS SAFEST
TWO-M|LE HIGHWAY
Camden Bridge, Spanning
Delaware River, Noted
for Its Few Accidents.

nesuite the heavy traffic over Cam
aen bridge spanning the Delaware
River between Philadelphia and Cam
den. and the entire absence or trafnc
regulations, this structure has pecoilte
known as the safest two-miie stretcn
of highway" near Philadelphia. very
few accidents of a serious nature Have
been reported on the orloge ana s.an III
has flowed safely and rapidly at all
times. s.,.,,
During the first month of operation
ee the bridge, July, 1926. S28,64I We
hicles passed over it. AT that tlme
This number was considered high ana
was attributed to the fact that many
versions in New Jersey and Pennsyi-
yania desired to see the great span.
In Julv of this year, however, tne
number totaled 1855 vehicles, Whlcn
now is viewed as the norman Mlusuil'
rner traffic. Toll collections 1or july.
1926. were $226.4S5 and for July. lsz
they amounted to $264,723, the III,
crease being partially due to raising
of the motor bus tolls, when Went ili'o
effect July of this year.
Decline to Formulate Rules.
The operation of the bridge from
the traffic standpoint has been an IN.
teresting experiment to drivers ana
traffic officials. From the nrst the
bridge officials decided not TO lay
DOWN rules for the motorlst. Coni-
NON sense was ito replace regula'
tions. There is no speed limit ON the
bridge and the motorist is expected 70
limit his speed in accordance WIN tue
volume of traffic and other circu,l-
stances. The only rule when tne
motorist is asked to observe Is "
change from one lane OF trafnc 10 an.
other at certain breaks in the nnes
designating lanes. =.
The system has been a success De.
cause motorists have co-operated
with bridge police to make the span
safe for driving, according to Brldge
Manager Joseph K. Costello.
1--WE have received the cooperation
IF % ner cent of automobile drivers,
saws MIR. Costello. Arrests have
heen few and have been made only
when absolutely necessary for the
safety of those using the bridge.
Nearly all motorists drive across the
bridge carefully. and the wild ana
reckless driver Is an exception.
Accidents Negligible.
1.-THE bridge has proved to be the
safest two-ifiile stretch of highway IN
This vicinity. Accidents have peen
negligible A bicyclist wabbled IN
the path of an automobile, was
thrown off and killed. A motorcy-
clist speeding one Saturday AFTERNOON
blew out a tire OF his slde-car anu
shot across the bridge into a bus. a
motor bus several weeks ago got be.
vond control of the driver and
nlowed into a mass of passenger cars.
causing a number of injuries
these are the dark spots OF the
picture. The brighter side is that
there has been concentrated upon the
bridge an enormous mass OF traflc
which has passed over safely. speed
fly ard comfortably. Nothing has
been left undone to make driving
easy and safe. The traffic lanes are
defined clearly by white painted lines
and mushroom markers divide the
traffic tides. No motorist exercising
care for his own safety has any rea-
son to complain of officiousness on
the part of our police. The police
job on the bridge is, primarily. the
handling of traffic.
Oficers Show Courtesy.
Both the police and toll collecting
forces have distinguished themselves
beginning the rule laid down by the
commission, that users of the bridge
are to be treated as valued custom
ers, has been followed with marked
success. No disposition has been
shown to harass motorists by the dis
play of petty authority"
Although the operation of the span
is considered by Pennsylvania and
Southern Jersey motorists as an
argument for the injection of more
"connmon-sense" and freedom into
the mass of complicated and conflict
ing traffic rules and regulations,
traffic officials of nearby communi-
ties point out that the traffic prob.
lem of the bridge is simplified in that
there is no interesting pedestrian
traffic. Only at the terminals of the
span at the bridge plazas on either
end must those factors be taken into
consideration, and traffic booths
regulate conditions at these points.
Aside from the regulation of traf-
fic. the other duties of the bridge
police which concern motorists il
keeping the bridge clean and main.
tanning the roadway in good condi.
ton. The latter il no easy task, &C.
cording to Bridge Manager Costello.
In view of the many large motor
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