Evening star., 1927-04-14
90 Of 1856 DRIVERS
FLOUT STOP SIGNS
Three TaIIies Taken Show
Wide Disregard of BouIe-
ward Warnings.
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.

BG w LILLIAN OIAlAhFAANs
Indifference to the boulevard stop
signs, q traffic violation fraught with
grave and constant danger to the tens
Of thousands of vehicles concentrated
on the arterial highways, is practiced
to an appalling extent in the National
Capital, a study of conditions by an
investigator for The Star reveals.
The figures developed by an actual
survey of conditions doubtless viii
prove startling even to those who are
conscious that this provision of the
traffic code is flagrantly and con-
stantly flouted.
Actual count of the motorists who
choose to ignore this vital part OF the
code or who violate it through lgno-
rance Of it's tremendous Importance 10
traffic safety reveals situation that
is amazing. In three tallies only w OF
1856 drivers came to stop. When, un-
der certain circumstances, one-haf OF
the motorists violate this regulation,
which depends upon the complete OBJ
seryance of all drivers for it's safety.
one can see the tremendous actual
or potential danger that exists at all
times on the important highways OF
the National Capital.
Count Made at Crossing.
The method followed by an investt-
gator for The Star in determining just
to what extent the boulevard stop
signs are fouted was to station himself
at an intersection and to count the
number of machines that passed,
checking the number that failed to
heed the regulations requiring them
to stop and wait until the way was
absolutely clear before venturing
across the arterial highway.
Observation of conditions raises the
question whether more than one-haH
of the drivers of the District have
clear concept of what the regulation
means.
1t was emphatically apparent that
large proportion of local motorists
think they have complied with the law
when they come to a stop in the vicin-
ity of the sign. Having stopped, they
seemed to assume that they had the
right to proceed with no regard for
their relation on the more important
thoroughfare.
1t was equally clear that another
large number try to get around the
purpose and intent of the regulation
by coasting slowly into the intersec-
ton, coming to virtual but not actual
stop. and then threading their way
across the arterial highway.
In round numbers, about SO per cent
showed a real knowledge of the regu-
lation and made an intelligent effort
to abide by its provisions requiring a
complete stop and a wait until the inn
portant highway was absolutely clear.
Coaster" Chief ViOIator.
TTnouestionably the coaster" is the
chief violator of the stop requirement.
He was to be found in astonishingly
large number at every intersection
where The Stars investigator made a
count of the violations. The coaster"
is no particular type. Women were
proportionately as guilty as men. al
though middle age showed both sexes
rather more inclined to obedience to
the law, at least. to a greater meas
ure of caution than was displayed by
more youthful drivers.
The coasters violations, because
they are made at relatively slower
speed seem to be less fragrant than
those of the driver who WhirlS across
the intersection with no regard for the
stop sign or the traffic on the more
important highway. While they do
not seem to be so grave menace in
the individual case, in the aggregate
they undoubtedly comprise one or the
most serious dangers existing on the
streets of the National Capital today.
The coaster" is continually cut
ting into the avenue, forcing its traffic
to sWerve dangerously, stop suddenly
or tie itself into the ver-dangerous
knot of congestion.
One of the most fragrant obse"va-
tions noted during the several days
study Of conditions occurred at the
intersection of Harrison street and
Connecticut avenue. The car involved
was that owned by a high District
official Harrison street as 1t ap-
proaches Connecticut avenue takes
slight dip, sufficient to give the car
considerable momentum that makes
stopping more difficult
No Effort to Stop.
The machine in question, travelling
at q speed of easily 25 miles an hour,
made no effort to stop at all. although
the sign is visible for fully block
away. Instead, it whirled into the
avenue at undiminished speed. cut
the corner sharply and turned north.
only the facility of the drivers of
three cars proceeding in the same
direction on Connecticut avenue pre-
vented q serious collision. All three
were forced to swerve dangerously
close to the curb to allow the power
full official car to make the sweeping
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