Evening star., 1927-04-17
R|GHT-OF F-WAY LAW
v|OLATORS SCORED
Many Local Drivers Reveal
Ignorance of Basic Rule,
Observer Asserts.

What is characterized as a general
misunderstanding of or a willful fail
ure TO observe the riGht-of-way rule,
the basic feature of all traffic control,
is apparent in the National Capital,
according to many observers who are
interested in the speeding UP of traf-
ffc. Failure to observe the right-ot-
way rule, either through misunder-
standing or otherwise. may be noted
on any heavily Travelled thoroughfare,
not only during the rush hour, but at
practically all other times of day.
The effect of the failure to observe
The right -of-way rule results IN a
Etultification of traffic which easily
might be remedied by adhering to the
regulation, in the opinion of oscar
Coolican, local Packard dealer.
New Regulation Simpler,
"a ma aiority of drivers seem TO he
proceeding on the theory that the
man on the right has the right o.
way under every condition, Mi,
Coolican declares. This reveals a
serious ignorance of the traffic code
A few years ago the right-of.way rule
was modified and simplitied in the in
terest Of faster travel. which in the
main, means safer travel.
"The District officials took out Of
the right-of-way regulation the proViso
that if the cars reached the corner at
approximately the same time. the man
on the right had precedence at the
intersection. This provision was found
e. be confusing. So to simplify mat
thrs. the regulation was made to read:
Operators Of vehicles approaching
a street intersection shall look out
for and give the right of way TO We
hicles approaching from the right pro
vtded that d vehicle making a right
or left hand turn shall give the right
et way 10 through traffic.
Gould anything be simpler? 1t
does not seem possible, and yet. from
the performance of thousands of
drivers, it seems something simpler
will have to be devised if it is to get
across.
Turning traffic has no right in the
intersection until the way is absolute.
B. clear Traffic that turns either
gght or left is slow traffic. 1t must
be. Turns cannot be made at high
speeds. The change in the provision
was made in order to permit the ve-
hides that are moving straight ahead
to continue at an unbroken speed.
But it isn't being done. The driver
WHO is on the right thinks this gives
him absolute right of way and he
crowds in. The result is a general
slowing down of traffic.
Stop Signs Are Disobeyed.
"On the arterial highways. desig-
mated for the sole reason that traffic
might be speeded up, we find that
general disobedience of the stop signs
serves to confuse and delay traffic.
Th0ye is no reason why this regula-
sion should not be understood. 1t is
% simple as one could make it. The
cross traffic is commanded to wait
Hntil the arterial highway is clear.
Stepping and waiting are far differ
ent matters. There are some who do
not even stop.
Thus, we see defeated one of the
beg. ideas of our traffic control sys-
tenn. The driver who knows the regu-
1Ations and desires to abide by them.
knows that it is not safe. Instead OF
flndng himself able to drive at higher
apehds. he has learned that he must
RIbceed slowly and keep a constant
Acekout for the law violator.
Outsiders comment on the ideal
street layout and liberal speed limits