Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23
Protesting the Left Turn.

The Merchants and Manufacturers
Association has added its voice to the
growing protest against the system of
left hand turns made in Washington
at automatically lighted intersections
and at crossings where policemen are
stationed. When the lighting system
was first installed the authorities de-
cided to keep green light traffic free
from interference. Accordingly, the
left-hand turn in two sections was de-
vised and the right-hand turn on the
red light was forbidden. A short time
ago the traffic Office, believing that
this system had been successful. eX-
tended its use to crossings controlled
by policemen.
While WaShingtonians were willing
to accept the outside left turn as ap-
piled to the lights because they could
see merit in the theory which would
keep the streets clear for synchronized
green light traffic, dissatisfaction was
expressed when they were compelled to
violate one of the fundamental rules
of the road at intersections where po-
licemen were stationed.
This dissatisfaction has grown to
point where the Merchants and Man.
ufacturers' Association has appealed to
the Commissioners for change. The
fundamental left-hand turn is from the
middle of the street or road where the
driver making the turn breasts only
the line of traffic facing him. The out
side left turn as practiced in Washing
ton is a violation of this principle, the
driver in this case breasting two lines
of traffic, one of them at his back. The
extension of the system has caused
motorists here to make the outside
turn by habit, regardless of whether
the crossing is regulated or not.
The Hoover conference, composed
of eminent traffic experts from all Sec
-tions of the country, approves none but
the inside left turn on the theory that
two kinds of turns are not only con-
fusing to the motorist, but dangerous
to moving traffic. 1t is this standard
that the Merchants and Manufactur-
ers' Association wishes the Commits
sioners to adopt for Washington.
That the present practice is con-
fusing and a breeder of accidents can
be observed by any local motorist. If
there is more than one line Of traftic
approaching an intersection, the driver
desiring to make a left-hand turn
must be on the outside if policeman
is stationed there at that time and on
the inside if there is not. If the
driver is close to the intersection before
he discovers the presence OF an officer
he must weave from one line to an
other to get into the proper position.
Frequently, it is impossible to tell
whether an officer is on duty before
the intersection is reached.
Another feature of the present
method is that when two or more cars
are waiting to make the outside left
turn, the street is closed completely to
those desiring to make a right-hand
turn and this innocuous maneuver is
delayed until another change of light
or signal.
In view of the protests which have
been launched against it the system
of turning in Washington is deserving
of study by the traffic Office and the
Commissioners. If confined solely to
the lights the present left-hand turn
will find few opponents on the basis
that this network of signals needs
special treatment, but the extension
of it to police-controlled intersections
and to other crossings, unpoliced and
unlighted, because of habit formed by
motorists has received and will receive
little support from those who drive
automobiles in the National Capital.