Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-06
S was to have been expected,
William H. Harland, direc-

~ tor of traffic, is not in &C
cord with the recent traffic
survey and recommendations made
by J. Rowland BibbinS, consulting
engineer, which was forwarded to
the traffic council for its ediflca-
ton.
3 While Mr.. Harland is apprecia-
tive of the magnitude of the work
undertaken by Mr. BibbinS and his
sincerity of purpose, he is of the
opinion that it does not represent
an accurate compilation of local
conditions and existing needs.
The director of traffic states that
the table of speeds attained on
various streets is far below the
average running time experienced
by most drivers.
Questions Speed Average.
According to Mr.. Harland, Mr..
BibbinS admitted to him that his
check-up was the result of leisure
motoring with no attempt to pass
any machines, even at legal rate
of speed If Mr.. BibbinS had done
this, Mr.. Harland stated, the engi-
neer'S table would have shown a
nuCn nlRQer rate.
Mr.. Harland's views do not COIN
eide with Mr.. BibbinS' in regard
to the time required for pedeS-
TRANS to cross the street in safety.
It would seem that he would limit
the pedestrians time in proper
ton to the number of walkers and
automobiles on the streets, Mr..
Harland declared. This could not
be done with safety and would
compel crossing pedestrians to run
across each intersection if they
would get across before the lights
changed.
Another thing Mr.. BibbinS would
have, Mr. Harland declared, would
be separate timing devices for
most of the intersections. The
cost involved would make this plan
impossible, the director of traffic
averred. For example, Mr.. Bib
bins points out that with this plan
on one street alone traffic could
be Speeded up one mile an hour.
I have figured the approximate
cost out in round figures, and for
allowing an increase of speed of
one mile per hour. the cost to the
city would be 100000.
Safety Before Speed.
"While I believe in speeding up
traffic as far as reasonable, my
first thought is of safety for ali.
Then, too, have to consider the
costs required he said.
M. o. Eldridge, assistant director
of traffic, has returned recently
from long motor trip into Can
ada. Mr.. Eldridge was impressed
with the number of ''no-left-turn"
signs he saw in the various cities
and towns he passed through. ut
seems" he stated, that the ma
jority of places deem them neces-
Sary. Most of my observations
were of casual nature, but con-
troversies over traffic lights are
certainly not only found in the
National Capital"
Mr.. Harland is waiting with
interest the installation of traffic
lights at Connecticut avenue and
Albemarle street. Although held
up by last weeks rain, it is
thought likely that this week will
see them in operation. Consider
able pressure has been brought to
bear to have the speed limit on
Connecticut avenue restored to
80 miles an hour. 1t was reduced
to % some time ago following q
fatal accident. Mr.. Harland ex-
pressed himself as being favorable
to increasing the speed again, but
said he would not make any
recommendation at the present
time.
Tape for Markers.
Tape, said to be elf-vulcanizing
is being tried out by the Traffic
Bureau to ascertain it's economy
over the steel discs now being used
to mark the various crossing lanes.
The metal markers were thought
too expensive at first over the
white painted lines and not much
more durable. Lately, however, 1t
is believed they are satisfactory
and more have been ordered and
placed.
Much has been said concerning
different inventions of traffic light
signals, which change when an
automobile approaches the inter-
section, due to pressure Of weight
or vibrations Success of these
present novelties has not yet been
proved.
There is one installed for ex-
perimental purposes in Baltimore
out Charles street. 1t has been re-
garded more or less as joke, but
is still allowed to stand. The in
tersection. normally, is not one OF
great traffic and so any temporary
lapse of the equipment is OF no
great Importance.
The other night party was re-
turning from one of the Maryland
country clubs. The driver of the
automobile approached the inter-
section from side road, drew his
car up toward what appeared like
a microphone attached to a pole,
stopped and honked vigorously.
Nothing happened. The light re-
NAMED green for Charles street
traffic-and there was none-and
ominously red for cross trafhc,
which the one car totaled all.
Something was wrong, either
the "microphone" was not in tune
to the Baltimore car, or was peev-
ish, tired or something. The
driver got out, walked up to the
signal and in no uncertain tones
bawled out, "Oh, go to the devil"
or words to that import. In
stantly the light changed, SEEM
ingly aroused over such rebuke,
i L.. "a -