Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-19
In the Motor World
BY Il. ADAMS HOWARD.

ment oT1claiS are puzzled over :
joint problem foreseen with tin
Forthcoming expansion of tn,
city'S automatic signal system.
Several fire companies are To-
Gated close to intersections to b.
controlled by the proposed lights
knowing how traffic backs up
AT such intersections when the rec
light flashes its stop warning
there arises the serious question
How are fire engines to get out al
their houses in an emergency
with their front drivewayS clut-
tered up with waiting automo-
biles?
A case in point is that of the
intersection of Georgia and New
Hampshire avenues and Rock
Greek Church road. Engine Com
pany No "a. serving a large and
important residential and bust
ness territory. IL ouartered in a
building or Georgia avenue only
q few yardS north of the corner.
When tra+Fsc OH Georgia avenue
is halted a >oiigeStion Of automo-
bileS in front of the engine house
seems inevitable.
Seek Solution of Situation.
Traffic Director Harland and
Fire Chief Watson have Sensed
the serious possibilities of such i
situation and are cooperating n
plan to <olve the difficulty. The
solution II yet to be announced.
Another, and an entirely differ
ent, Fire Department traffic prob
lem is that involved in the cross
ing of Signal-controlled streets by
apparatus en- route to fire, When
the lights on Sixteenth street first
were established a flashing signal
system was inaugurated TO warn
motorists OF the approach of fire
and eme .gency vehicles. The plan
did not Tork, because it was i'm
possible 90 flash the warning in
all instances.
Director Harland found this out
In striking personal experience.
He was stopped. along with other
motorists. by the fire warning.
and when the flashing stopped
and the lights returned to normal
operation. he started forward
again At the next corner the
light turned green and he moved
along toward the cleared inter-
section. Just as he reached the
cross street. however. he heard
the nearby shrek of a fire siren
and a moment or two later a fire
engine dashed across in front Of
him. This experience proved to
him that the flashing signal was
tmnracticable and dangerous. as
1t lured the motorist into false
sense of security.
Signals Ineffective.
Now the signals give no special
notice of the approach of emer-
gency vehicles. The warning OF
the public is left solely to the
drivers of the fire or police cars,
who must sound their sirens and
use their own judgment as to
crossing signal-controlled boule-
wards. OF course, every motorist
Is supposed to know that fire ap-
paratus has the right of way
under all circumstances - stop
lights or no stop lights.
In this connection Director Har-
land has issued warning to all
motorists to keep at least one
window of their car open at all
times. so that the fire and police
eirens. whistles or bells, may be
easily distinguished.
washington'S new viaduct bea-
cons are here and installation will
start at once. The beacons are in
the form of flashing amber lights,
TO be attached to the steel sup
ports of the viaduct. A second
airy light beneath the flashing
also floods the base of
the support with light. The bea-
cons will be installed on the via
ducts at Rhode Island avenue,
Florida avenue. M street, L street.
X street and H street, all north
east. and at Water street south
west.
Compulsory insurance is the
topic of conversation by motorists
in many States. The following
story. from the Boston Evening
Transcript, the home State OF
this measure, is of interest:
Insurance Commissioner Wes-
ley z. Monk is getting ready to
make his annual revision OF rates.
for compulsory automobile liabil-
fly insurance. and for that pur-
pose has accumulated what Is be-
lieyed TO be the most complete
collection of information upon
the subject ever brought together
anywhere in the world. This will
be the first time that rates have
been made with a full years ex-
perience Of all the motor vehicles
in the State available. When
compulsory automobile insurance
went into effect in Massachusetts,
two years ago all that the insur-
ance companies could provide In
the way Of experience was that OF
about 30 per cent of the cars,
whose owners had carried insur-
snce voluntarily Upon this and
other information as Commission
er Monk and his department
could collect the rates were based.
Last year there was only about
five months real experience at
hand. and, as that was not con-
elusive. the rates were changed
onlv In minor details.
In preparing for the 1920
schedule Of rates the commission
or has. however, the full expe-
rience Of all the insurance COM
panies doing business In Massa :
chusetts during 1927. This rs be-
ing tabuls ted. analysed and put
in shape so that on or before the
Jst of September the commits
sioner cen promulgate schedule
hxscS m 2ctu1l exneripnrf What