Evening star., 1928-03-25
By w. X. McCALLUM.

Within few days-possibly In less
than week-the national conference
on street and highway safety is 10
place before the Nation a new traffic
ordinance, going deeper into trafflc
regulation than any uniform national
code has gone heretofore. The new
code. departing from the broad phases
of regulation that have hitherto heen
the work of the conference. will come
closer to the average motorist in that
IL will attempt to set up a uniform
standard for the municipalities Of the
Nation Previous codes have dealt only
with national standard and with reg
ulations applicable to the large political
divisions
Committees of the conference have
been at work on the municipal ordi-
nance for many months and are now
approaching the end of their arduous
task According to Col A. B. Barber.
manager OF the transportation depart
ment Of the Chamber Of Commerce Of
the United States and director Of the
national conference. the Nation has
made notable strides toward solution
Of the gigantic problem of traffic con-
troll and the next step. and the one
to be laid before the Nation shortly in
a comprehensive plane is the adoption
Of uniform municipal ordinances.
Covers Chief Problems.
Almost as important as the uniform
code" he says, lis the model municipal
trafic ordinance in which We are now
working This will cover the following
points: Vehicle movement and regula-
ton; pedestrian facilities and regula-
ton: traffic signs. signals and marx
;,,n n 70 n
ing facilities and street distractions;
public motor vehicles, railroads, street
cars and emergency vehicles.
The need for some degree OF uni
formity to relieve the bewilderment OF
the driver who finds different regula-
tions in every town through which he
passes is evident 1t should go far to-
/ ward checking the rising curve OF ac-
! cidents This will depend in large
/ measure upon unification and uniform
ity of State laws and city traffic codes.
/ And what need there is for some
uniformity of municipal ordinances
( Baltimore for example. has traf1c
{ light system far more extensive tnan
/ Washington but with two major dlf-
| ferences. First. the Baltimore lights
are usually hung high up in the middle
( Of the intersection. There a motoriSt
! has to peer out from under the VisoI
/ Of his windshield 10 see the signal
! But second. and more important, left
/ turn or right turn NAV be made o.:
I the green light In Washington tc
make a left turn the motorist mus;
! pull over to the right and wait for ths
/ green light in the direction he wishes
/ to goa reasonable and certainly q
safer method than that Of Baltimore
/ We didn't know just what system g
I little village in Virginia not far from
Washington operated under. So being
/ in a hurry and wishing TO hark back
I for a bite Of dinner we took a chance
/ II operated under the Baltimore sys-
/ tenn Of left turn on the green. We
I made 1t quickly. hoping TO get away
with II II We were wrong. Within two
minutes came the buzz OF motor cycle
I and that gruh "Pull-over" hail Only
/ a bit OF what We are pleased TO call
/ smooth talking prevented visit TO the
/ town justice of the peace and the usual
/ SIS and costs. That town-and We
/ Shant mention the name. for We have
some regard fer the stalwart motor
/ cycle cop who fell for our line Of rea-
! soning-has system OF turns like that