The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-08-15
STANDARDIZED
TRAFFIC RULE
STILL LACKING
Striking Lack Of Uniformity
in Regulation of Vehicles
Is Noted

Washington. D. c., August 15.-De-
spite the progress made in the pro
motiont of a uniform motor vehicle
law for the country, liberalization
rather than standardization is still!
the rule as far as traffic regulation
and control in the large cities of the
nation is concerned.
This coupled with the conclusion
that from ally appearances standard
"-ization of city traffic regulations is
is the outstanding deduction from
a survey recently completed by the
American Automobile Association.
This survey was based on An ex-
haustive questionnaircs sent to key
cities in every section of the country.
The questionable of the national
motoring body was designed to shed
light on the handling of such matters
as the rght-and-left hand turns.
one-way streets, parking, automatic
control signals, boulevard systems.
penalties for traffic violations. spc-
cial traffic courts, use of the streets
I. by contractors, and kindred matters
related to flow. Of traffic.
Diverse Views Held
Another important fact developed
by the questionnaire was that regu-
lations tried and proven effective by
one city. were often discarded as
worthless, if not hazardous. by other
communities were more or less com
parable, indicating, it is believed,
that even expert traffic engineers
hold widely diverse views on some
common problems. The A. A. A. sum
mary of the survey follows:
First - Right andleft hand turns
are more or less Of local problem,
the general concensus being in favor
Of the abolition of the left-hand
turn, while particular emphsis is
laid on the danger of the lcft-hand
turn in congested districts and on
arterial highways.
Second - Onc-way streets are ap-
parently successful remedy for
congestion where streets are narrow,
hut the best results are obtained only
where streets are alternated to OBJ
tain an even flow Of traffic in all
directions.
Third--Parking is largely subject
Ito local conditions, the tendency be-
in very congested districts, and the
: placing Of maximum limit of two
hours in downtown sections.
Fourth--Pcnalties imposed for viO-
--lItions disclose wide diversity of
practices; there is growing sentiment
in favor of establishing a system for
leaving fixed collateral for minor Of
lenses, thus avoiding the need Of
going to court; the establishment of
special traffic courts has been found
very helpful.
Fifth = There is little or no uni
formity AS to traffic control bodies,
fact which often results in confu-
sion and conflict in communities
where no traffic head is designated
Sixth 1.-The practices of revocation
of permit shows wide divergence and
frequently there is no Legislation
whatever on this subject.
Seventh-The flow Of traffic is OF
the whole aided by automatic con.
,trol. but on the other hand is founG
to be largely dependent upon tn.
proper routing of traffic and the OBJ
of regulations.
Boulevard System Successful
Eighth Boulevard systems have
proven success where instituted
with proper forethought, and wher,
signals are obeyed. This is regarded
as one of the prime factors in solv
ing future problems.
Ninth The movement of trucks
and freight on the streets has re
ceived scant attention to date, bu
there is definite trend to restric
trucks to certain streets and to re
strict the handling of freight unit
after nightfall.
Tenth-Contractors' use of street
constitutes almost everywhere q yer,
vexing problem, but this is one which
could be easily remedicd by restric
tive regulations.
Observation-Disclosures improvement
which is the most important field
from the standpoint of the future, i
-...Teceiving very little attention sine
--0nly q few cities in the country ar
really planning to meet future re
quirements.
Twelfth--The grade crossing stu
alton shows distinct tendency to
ward elimination of grades, an
there IL growing recognition Of tn
news Of tunnels for pedestrian traf
fic, where congestion is very bad.
Thirteenth-Street widening is i'm
peded by cost and protests Of abutin
>property owners.
Fourteenth--ln the case Of stree
cars-a necessary impeachment I
modern vehicular traffic the bes
results are being obtained by re
routing, adoption of loading plat
forms, and placing Of town ter
minals for loading and unloading |
nnr1S Away s4rom vel1ieular traffic. !,