Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-12
TRAFFIC AUTHORS %
URGE UNIFORMITY
IN lEFT-HAND TURN

Continued From First Psge)
held in Washington last year, the model
municipal ordinance was prepared and
later published with an explanatory
committee text. In discussing the queS-
ton OF turning to the left, the commit
tee made clear its conception OF the
Importance Of the turning problem.
FavOrs Turn From Center.
Operation of vehicles at intersections
particularly Of vehicles turning thereat
occasions the greatest conflicts and re-
suits I'm large percentage of accidents
II Is essential that suitable regulations
govern the movements OF vehicles al
intersections in order 10 facilitate travel
and to insure the maximum OF safety,
states the explanatory text. The COM
mittee believes left turns should be
made from the line of trafic next to
the center of the roadway. In O few
cities 1t is required that left turns be
made from the rieht-hand lane OF
travel next to the right-hand curb. The
committee believes this is not the best
practice. Such movement results in the
left turning vehicle crossing the line
OF travel of any other vehicles ap-
preaching from the rear and DESTROYS OF
proceeding straight ahead 1t also
blocks vehicles about to turn right.
Still another Of the Washington
committeeman, 4. N. Smith, general
manager of the American Automobile
Association, expressed his conviction of
the great desirability OF a country
wide establishment of uniform traffic
rules, and particularly as " the left
turn. There is no feature of driving
which produces more accidents than
does the turn at street intersections, +"
said Mr.. Smith, land the opportunities
for their occurrence are far greater in
making left turns than in making the
turn to the right. When the commit
tee studied this problem /, with the
rest of the members, was convinced
that the better way to make the left
turn was from the lane of traffic nearest
the center of the street and I have to
date seen no reason to change this
opinion. 1t Is even more vital, how
ever. that there be uniformity through
out the country in our traff1c regulations
so that driver from one city or State
is not forced to learn q new set Of
rules in each community he enters.
Driving, as is well known, becomes q
rather instructive matter among the
better drivers-and that is a highly
desirable situation to attain--but it is
impossible TO drive. instinctiyely under
varying regulations.
ID: G. Conditions Chaotic.
Washington traffic regulations gov
erning the making of the left-hand turn
are chaotic, differing not only from the
rules prevailing generally throughout
the country. but being totally lacking
in uniformity, even here in Washing
ton" declared Mr.. Smith. Not content
with being out of step with the ma
jority of other municipalities. we have
one rule for 90 per cent of our left
turns, another totally different rule for
the remaining 10 per cent, and then for
that 10 per cent we are not consistent
but vary by the clock. At one hour, at
policeman controlled corners. the wide
swinging. circular tkafn to the left is in
effect, yet at some other hour Of the
day. at the very Same corner, the rule
Is changed and left turns are made
from the left traffic lane.
= il any wonder that visiting mo-