Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-10
MOTHER dissenting voice to n

n the present form of left
~ turn for automobiles at
4 a controlled crossings was
added to the list this week when
the Cathedral Heights Cleveland
Park Citizens Association went on
record as favoring the left-turn
regulations set down in the report
of the Hoover conference for
municipal traffic control. The re-
solution calling for the abolition
of the present form of left-turn in
the Capital was adopted by the
association after it had heard OF
the left-turn experiences OF a
score or more cities explained by
Howard N. Startling, manager of
the safety division of the Ameri-
can Automobile Association.
Mr.. Startling pointed out that the
style of turn which has been in
force in the Capital for a con-
siderable length of time has been
given the most extensive tests In
practically every city of any size
In the country, and one by one
these cities have returned to the
old left-turn, known as the ''in-
side" turn, with the single excep-
ton of Cleveland.
Cleveland, he pointed out. has
kept the outside" left-turn in
force at small number Of cross
ings in the downtown section Of
the city, but has adopted the "in-
side" turn for the general city
traffic regulations.
Personally, I am in favor of the
outside turn" Mr.. Startling de-
clared. He said he preferred max
ing the turn as it is made in
Washington, but based his argu-
ment for the return of the Capital
to the inside turn on the judg-
n1ent of the foremost traffic ex-
perts of the Nation, who, gathered
in the Hoover conference on
municipal traffic regulations, re-
jected the outside turn as a prin-
ciple of traffic regulation fully
tried but found wanting.
1.-THE chief goal to be gained in
the return to the inside form of
left-turn," Mr.. Startling said, 'iS
nationwide uniformity of traffic
regulations as embodied in the
code adopted by the Hoover con-
ference. Well never get anywhere
with this plan of uniformity in
traffic regulations if every city in
sists upon sticking to its own little
pet regulations, which are in direct
conflict with the findings of the
best minds on traffic regulation in
the country. Many of the cities
will have to give point, but one
city'S point can hardly tip the
scale against the advantages to be
gained from Nationwide uni
9ormity in traffic control"
Mr.. Startling is a Washington
resident, although his work takes
him on trips to the larger cities of
the country in the study of safety
problems. He sees considerable
disregard for traffic regulations in
the National Capital.
I'm no city of like size in the
country have I seen such diSre-
gard for traffic regulations" he
told the meeting. There is a gen.
eral lack of regard for the rules
Of the streets here that is not,
equaled, in my opinion, anywhere
else in the country" He advises a
general Tightening up OF traffic
regulation enforcement.
Safety zones painted on the
city streets at Street-car stops also
drew the disapproval of the safety
"A false sense of security is
given by these painted white
lines" he declared. He pointed
out that there is, particularly In
washington, a tendency to diSre-
gard the painted white lines. The
motorists of the city, he says, have
never fully accepted them as real
safety zones and have run through
them almost at will. Even when
there is large button marking
the approach corner of the safety
zone, the drivers have little hest
fancy in straddling 1t, he finds.
But it is the driver who chooses
the car tracks route of getting by
the safety zone who Is the great
est menace to those who wish to
use the zones for boarding street,
cars, Mr.. Startling thinks. The law
here on going through these zones
on the car tracks is not defined
clearly enough, he thinks.
In most cases, he points out, the
rule which provides that cars shall
keep as close to the right-hand
curb as is practical and safe
should apply, but frequently, par
ticularly at the peak traffic hours,
when the car-loading zones are