Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-29

Brief and clear traffic signs should
be placed as nearly as possible at the
point where their message Is to be
obeyed. It is declared in the report OF
the American engineering councils
committee on street signs, signals ana
markings. made public by the presi-
dent of the council, Arthur w. Berres-
ford of New York.
The report is the outcome OF a Ma
tion-wide survey conducted In more
than 100 cities, selected principally
from those having population Oh
over $4,000, although some we're chosen
because of special conditions or de-
velopment.
Ali of the largest and most i'm
portant cities from the standpoint OF
traffic control were included, and a
large ma iority of the States have rep
resentation by their principal cities. 1t
is believed that all conditions and
methods of traffic control have been
investigated.
Great Aid TO Drivers.
Adequate signs are great aid To
the drivers of vehicles. and conse-
aucntly are an important factor IN safe
guarding and expediting trafTlc, espe-
cially in congested city streets" the
| report states.
ITO be adequate for this service
every sign should be thoroughly de-
signed and carefully placed so as tc
convey its needed message clearly and
| briefly at exactly the place where II
is required. This means simplincation
! of wording. Standardization OF color
| shane lettering, and location, an
/ nouncement of its official authority Il
| legally required, and the removal oil
| every unofficial sign which in any way
conflicts with these requirements.
| Regardless of how effective signs
| NAV appear, results will not be obtained
| without jealous enforcement OF the
| regulations which the signs Dromulgate
without which no system of equipment
/ can be effective"
The report declares that cast metal
/ (iron. or aluminun). sheet metal tsteel
mr. aluminun) and wood may be used in
making signs. Enamel and paint fin
ishes are suggested. Both material and
finish. it is pointed out, should be Sc
/ lected prirIr rily for durability and Sec
ondarily for cost. Specifications pro-
posed by the Joint Board of Interstate
Highways and the United States Blu
reau Of Standards are recommended for
all signs.
Sign Shapes Outlined.
The shapes of signs are outlined as
| follows:
Railroad grade crossing. circular;
stop, octagonal; slow, indicating condi-
| tons inherent in the roadway requiring
caution. diamond: caution, indicating
conditions adjacent to the street requir-
ing caution. square: one-way and de-
tour. arrow; direction and information
rectangular; restriction, rectangular.
| All signs. the report continues. should
be- made of the specified dimensions II
possible but in cases where existing
equipment varies somewhat from the
specifications. it may be used provided
| the general proportions are the same
The specified dimensions are uni
formly smaller than those presented In
the code of the American Association
of State Highway Officials for the
reason that the signs do not need to
/ be visible so far away when vehicles
are travelling at the slower average
/ speeds of city traffic
i The following colors for signs are
recommended
Railroad crossing. yellow with black
letters; stop. yellow with rcd letters: