Evening star., 1928-06-10
RY WALTER n. McCALLUM.


American municipalities are suffering
eupalltng losses, totaling at the most
conservative estimates upward Of two
billions of dollars annually because OF
lack of Standardization OF traffic regu-
lation and control in the opinion OF
Col. A. b. Barber, manager of the
transportation department OF the
Chamber Of Commerce OF the United
States.
From figures obtained from scores
c. communities and municipalities
throughout the country, which the
commerce body has used in formulation
OF a MODEL municipal traffic code, Col
Barber believes that the situation while
it is bad and getting worse. is far from
hopeless because We have the advantage
Of a highly developed system of pri-
vately organized associations to aid in
the solution of mutual traffic problems.
AS a basis for standardized traffic
regulation. he submits the model State
code and model municipal traffic
ordinance drafted by the National
Safety Conference.
Urges Model Code.
THE problem of many cities will be
greatly silnplifed by the adoption of
by their States and this will facilitate
adoption Of the proposed model NUM-
cIpal traffic ordinance, which is based
on the uniform vehicle code designed TO
meet the needs of our cities and towns"
Col. Barber says:
The provision of roads and other
facilities for traffic depends upon the
cooperation, wisdom and foresight of
elected bodies, which lack the energy.
inventiveness and adaptahility of the
individual. This explanation of the
rapid growth of motor traffic would
apply particularly well in America.
From the earliest days Of this country
tndividualism has been our accepted
doctrine. 1t is recognized as the basis
OF our great economic progress. It is
IN large measure responsible for the
presence on our streets and highways
Of 23o0o.000 motor vehicles or 7s ner
cent OF those in use throughout the
world.
While We can Justly claim to have
public legislative bodies and administra-
tive authorities comparing favorahly
with those OF other lands, we shall
have to admit that here, probably to a
greater degree than anywhere else in
the world. the phenomenal growth in
the use Of the automobile has outrun
the provision Of facilities and methods
OF control.
mo other country has a $4,000. .o0o.-
0O0 year loss due to trafic conges-
ton, delays and accidentS-none has to
record motor fatalities of $4,000 an
nually and personal injuries upward
of half million. But serious as our
situation Is we do not feel 1t hopeless
Tor ne have the advantage of a highly.
developed system of privately Organized
associations - motoring ORGANIZATIONS.
chambers of commerce, safety councils
and other groups-to aid the public
authorities in the solution Of these
problems,
Dictator May BE Needed.
There may be some who feel that
dictator Is needed to bring order out
of the present confusion, but we in
America turn naturally to other
methods for bridging the gap between
accumulated individual demands and
the obviously inadequate facilities and
measures OF control thus far provided.
We believe that steadier and more GER
tain progress win be made through CO.
operation with the public authorities
~ organized groups Of interested In
csFiouals than through any dictator.
IniS Is true not only IN regard 10 traf-
nc. The association movement has
been developing rapidly Ia many fields
in fact, this development has been an
outstanding characteristic of the past
decade IN this country.
"a certain degree Of trafic regulation
- obviously necessary and 1t is to the
public authorities that we must look
Ter IL as well as for the needed i'm
ITovements in facilities. but in all of
this 1t is certainly better that there should
be intelligent advice and cooperation
from those directly aMected-tlfat they
should, for example, suggest the scope
and limitations Of regulations rather
than have them imposed arbitrarily
from above. To bring about this co.
operation WaS an underlying purpose
oz the national conference on street
and highway safety. organized by Sec
Tetary Hoover In 1924, with the asgis-
tance OF the national associations and
groups concerned.
Among the afIiiiated organizations
there are none which have a more d.
fect or higher responsibility than the
automobile clubs and associations. The
Tork of these organized motoring
groups has many aspects. AS we have
indicated, they serve 10 bring To the
attention Of the responsible authorities
the various measures Of Improvement
which are required to meet the growing
demands. They render direct assist
e1ce and service TO the individual mo-
foT:st, aiding and protecting him ir