Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-02
SO PER CENT VOTE
FOR HOOVER TURN
A. A. A. Announces Over
$500 Ballots Cast on
Traffic Question.

With over $500 votes of local
motorists now listed In the traffic poll
being conducted by the American
Automobile Association, the drivers Of
the District continue to evidence a de-
cided preference for the standard
Hoover left turn as opposed to the wide
swinging rotary turn. Since the bal
lots are being confined to members Of
A. A. A., the sentiments expressed
therein are those of persons who base
their opinion on actual driving expert
ence. The fact, association executives
pointed out, makes their straw vote
representative of motorists opinion
In the voting on the two methods
OF making the turn, the Hoover turn
was favored by SO per cent of the resi-
dent motorists" announced Charles p.
Clark, general manager Of the A. A. A.
He also pointed out that there con-
tinues to be surprising number of car
owners who do not know that two
methods for making left turns are used
In the District of Columbia. In re-
spouse to this question, there were 40
per cent OF 1888 resident motorists I'M
familiar with the fact that two methods
are used.
Big Majority for Uniformity.
THE large number of car owners vot-
ing i'll favor of uniform traffic rules
leaves no doubt that the Nations Cap
ital favors uniformity" Mr.. Clark said.
out OF 2,526 car owners voting on this
question, there were 95.8 per cent in
favor of having uniform rules, while
1913 per cent of 2,516 motorists ex-
pressed themselves as favoring one rule
Tor the left turn at all crossings,
whether controlled or uncontrolled"
The majority Of the tourists visiting
Washington are confused by the rotary
!etf-hand turn employed here at certain
intersections, and would prefer too see
the adoption of the standard Hoover
method in the opinion of E. c, Owen.
manager director of the Powhatan, and
president of the Hotel Association of
Washington, D. c.
Il cannot speak for the Hotel Asso-
citation without bringing the matter be-
fore the members and a meeting could
not be held before September T." Mr..
owen said, but, when the controversy
nrSt became acute here, instructed our
office force and other employees to try to
ascertain from the visiting motorists
their opinion regarding the present
trafic regulations and particularly the
method of turning left.
visitors favored a countrywide uni
form system and likewise that they
found the Washington code very con-
fuSing. AS our local traffic rules are
in uniformity with the standard prac-
tice throughout the United States ex-
cept on the left-turn point, it was ap-
parent that what was causing the tour
list trouble was with our rotary turn,
The majority OF the visitors were not
hesitant in expressing their opinion
That WaShlngton's peculiar rotary turn
was doing much to mar their enjoy
ment in their stay here.
Productive Of Trouble.
'The fact that We have one regula-
ton where traffic lights or a traffic Of
flcer Is stationed, and another where
there are neither lights nor officers
would naturally make it confusing to
the visiting motorists. This dual sys-
| tenn Of rules is productive of trouble for
the local driver, as I know from per-
sonal observation, and it is bound to be
doubly SO for the driver who is using
our streets for the first time.
1T is my personal belief that due con-
Sideration must be given to the rights
of the pedestrian, but, from what I have
gathered on the subject, it appears that
either turn is equally advantageous to
those on foot.
| Il believe the Hoover turn will please
the greatest number of tourists, will
make our regulations uniform with the
balance OF the country, and will work
| well here, particularly in view Of the
fact that our local motorists are now
! familiar with 1t through using it at all
uncontrolled intersections at the present
| time. 1 am further convinced" Mr..
owen concluded, that the visiting mo-
| torists-thousands of whom visit their
| Capital City annually-should have
great consideration, and that regula-
tons should be adopted which will cause
them as little trouble and confusion as
possible"