Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-29
MERCHANTS WANT
HOOVER LEFT TURN
All interviewed on Subject
Are Opposed to Present sys-
tenn and HarIand Plan.

something lust as good in the shape
of the Hoover system but with vital
modification, is poor business and will
still leave Washington tagging behind
in the uniform traffic code movement
in the opinion OF local department store
leaders who have been interviewed by a
Star reporter. Every one of them was
against the present rotary turn and was
equally opposed to the Trafic Bureau
tHarland) plan. which would still re-
n,lire left turning cars to wait for the
light change. differing solely from the
present rotary. turn in that vehicles
would stop In the center of the street
instead Of at the right, until the shift
In light. There was lInanimity in de-
clarlng for the Hoover uniform code
left, turn rule which. it, was pointed out
ts the one used now in Washington
except for the relatively few controlled
intersections.
THE regular Hoover left turn with
out modification is the sensible thing
to adopt in Washington" said r. E.
Buckley. general superintendent Of the
palais ROYAL. Il certainly dislike the
rotary turn now in force at some in
tersections during portions of the time
and I believe that there should be the
same rule at all crossings at all times.
Furthermore I am convinced that the
best thing we can do is to Join In the
movement for uniformity. To arbitrarily
require a stop before completing the
turn. which I understand is being con-
sldered is To retard traffic unnecessarily
unless conditions are such at the time
as TO make it proper 10 stop for safety"
Were it not for the great safety value
Of uniform rules ! would favor turn
I have seen used in Atlantic City" said
l.. F. Thrift. superintendent of w, p.
Moses (, Sons. but. all things consid-
cred. ! want In 60 on record as for the
Hoover left turn. ana 7 think II should
be applied here At all intersections.
When our present conflicting rules are
changed, believe It might he well for
q time to mark the lane on the pave
rnert. preceded by the words Left Turn
This Lane or similar legend. Further
more, when use the term 'HooveP
turn I mean the turn on the green
light from the left lane. making only
such stops as may oe necessary because
Of the right of way being with the on
coming traffc."
Uniform Turn Favored.
''Whlle I think our present left turn
rules should be changed SO as to be
the same ar all intersections through
out the city and believe that the one
which should be adopted Is tn turn from
the center of the intersection on the
green lisht--in other words, the Hoover
turn without modification-still l am
convinced that there is another factor
in the traff1c problem which is of equal.
II not greater. importance" said George
s. De Neale. general superintendent of
kann'S. What / have in mind is a
concerted effort to impress every motor
car operator with The necessity for con-
sideration of the rights Of others Do
unto others as Won would have others
do unto you still has. or should have.
It: place In this gasoline age, and ONLY
BY its universal application can there
be safety in the use of streets both for
drivers and for PEDESTRIANS
Il am absolutely in favor of change
IN our present left-tlIrn rule At con-
trolleo crossings. and believe we should
adopt the method We now prescribe for
uncontrolled intersections which l I'M
derstand Is known as the Hoover turn
SAID Mark Lansburgh of Lsnsburgh 81
Bro. II car see the value in the modl-
hcatlon suggested by Mr. Harlsnd. but
TO require stop when the condition OF
me fraffc did not make it. necessary
seems q needless block. Furthermore,
think that the rule which is finally Sc
lected should be applied at all intersec-
tons, whether controlled or not. so as
10 give lis uniformity. and / doubt IL the
stop feature could be enforced at I'M
controlled crossings. so that we soon
would have two rules again.
Now We stop when due regard to our
own and the other drivers safety de-
n1ands II at uncontrolled crossings. and
have no reason TO doubt we would ex-
erclse the same thoughtfulness at con-
trolled intersections. Likewise adoption
NJ the InnVeF IN |,
blocking those who want 10 make right
turns, and that is one Of the bad fea-
lures Of the rotary left turn.
Rushing tn Beat Light Hit.
while this enforcement campaign Is
m I wish it. might be considered pos
slhle To do something about the drivers
who beat the light At nearly every
light change you can see some one trv-
ing 10 get the start on the rest by NOV
ing INST before the lights change and
II IL sggrs waiting to those who are obey
ing the law 10 see others violate regula-
tons and get away with n"
Certainly / believe there should be
uniformity in traffic rules in regard to
the left turn" said A. Hecht Of the
Hecht Co., in expressing his surprise
that there should be any doubt on
such question. C. L. NARROW. general
of the same company.
was equally emphatic in declaring his
belief in the value of universal rules.
Give us almost anything except the
rotary method we now have so long
as there Is uniformity sll over the CITY,"
said Mr., NARROW. of course I prefer
the so-called Hoover method without
Tt is the one we use here
at all uncontrolled intersections and /
have used It a great deal in Baltimore,
where il is the rule all over the city.
! find 1t opens up the way for those
who want to make right turns at the
sanne crossing and. above all else, it Is
the standard turn"
Put me down as favoring the Hoover
turn without the modification which
has been suggested" remarked W. W.
Everett, general manager of woodward
& LothropS. when and il the rules
are changed here again there should be
adopted but one system for all over the
city and that one. l believe. should be
the one which has been Endorsed by all
of the ira dc experts who drew up tse
Hoover model municipal ordinance. Just
as far as possible. there should be
uniformity throughout the country in
our driving rules and there Is nothing
in our local conditions which makes it
necessary that we fall short of doing
our. share along that line by making
non-essential modification of the al
most universally accepted left-turn
method"
Opposes Modification.
T. A. Buete. service director OF the
same company. indicated his opposition
to the suggested modified Hoover turn
by saying. "I'd almost prefer to 90 on
as we are than to see change made
TO the method tentatively suggested by
the Traffic Bureau. What would like
10 see is a speedy adoption of the regular
Hoover left turn
TT seems foolish to me to require
stop at the center Of the intersection
Inless trafic conditions make it neces-
,arv at the time of left turning" said