Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17
S|MPL|F|ED RULES
URGED FOR AUTO|ST
Customs and "UnWritten
Law" of Road Are Listed
to Aid Travellers.
BY II. CLIFFORD BROKAW.
Automobile Technical Advisar

By n. CLIFFORD BROKAW,
Automobile Technical Adviser.
The automobile as factor in human
society does not date back many years
In the history of the United States. 1t
s modern invention. Yet it already
has its traditions and it has its laws.
Sometimes tradition is more binding
than a law. In the automotiye world
there Is some confusion as to which is
which. And there is plenty OF misln-
derstanding as to what all the traditions
and laws are, that are intended to
govern the actions of the motorist
For instance, what is a legal regula-
ton in one State is no legal matter
whatsoever in another. In fact, what
70 the law for motorist who is trav-
cling through the open country NAV
NOT be the law at all the next minute
sTLer he has entered the limits of some
incorporated village or city. To know
sn OF the rules of the road is a lob
which seems to be beyond most of
those who are operating automobiles on
our American highways. This situation
represents a phase of motoring which
needs some simplification and more
Standardization.
MOST OWNERS Cooperate.
Undoubtedly most Of the automobile
owners desire to cooperate in main
tanning standard of automotiye con-
quot which will be fair and to the best
interests OF all concerned, both auto
moDlilstS ana pedestrians. Some one
ougnt 10 make study of what rules
OF the road are really practical and
essential to the safest and most com
Portable driving. This would be a lust
service, as such regulations would I'M
oountedly appeal to the vast ma ioritv
OF people. However, there are now
lew fairly well defined rules which have
attained recognition as being sound
and these should be known by all mo-
respect. way
A situation which frequently ar;sec
when there is need for knowing fhe
rules of the road is when one car is
passing another. In case a driver
WISHES 70 pass the car ahead he should
De sure That he has plenty of chance
70 get by before meeting q car COMING
In the other direction, which means II,
turn, that he must be proceeding on a
highway that is straight ahead. and
not on q curve, and on a fairly level
stretch. He will blow his horn to in
dicate to the car ahead that he wishes
10 pass. The driver of the car ahead
VIII then see to it that he Is proceeding
Iar enough to the right of the highway
70 allow ample space for the other car
to pass him. The driver of the car
ahead cannot be expected to proceed
along these lines unless the owner of
the car following indicates q desire to
pass.
Stop Signals Aid.
Stopping the car is often necessary.
especially when driving on a highway
where the trafic is heavy. 1t Is i'm
portant that the car first In line shall
In some way be able to advise the next
car behind as to his stopping inten-
tons. It is true that the general use
OF stop lights on the rear of auto
mobiles has done much to avoid acct
dents caused by automobiles humping
into each other when following along
IN nne. The red stop light, however,
shows whenever the brake Is applied
ana may not. therefore, always indicate
WHISTLER the car Is coming to a full,
stop or simply slowing down somewhat.
When Q car II coming to full stop it
Is customary for the driver to extend
his left hand In horizontal direction,
70 indicate to cars behind that he is
Stopping. This sort of signal is usually
sufficiently conspicuous to warn the
driver coming behind, even though the
stop, for one reason or another, is
rapidly executed.
It Is necessary for an automobile to
start just as many times as 1t stops.
That an automobile is about to start,
however, does not ordinarily require a
signal from the driver, since any one
following along In the trail of such a
car will have no difficulty in knowing
VrylNN q h0a al al
consequently when it is safe to follow.
While going backward is rare and
tnfrequent procedure, it sometimes is
necessary and may call for some signal
to car behind. Up to date it appears
to have been no uniform practice to
indicate this kind of movement 1t
is likely that one may be worked out in
the future. Be careful when backing
Mirrors are valuable to aid in this
Bumpers also make for safety. and
clean windshields.
Turn Signs Cited.
When an automobile is contemplat-
ing taking left-hand turn at the
crossroads 1t is proper for the driver
to extend his hand, as in the case of
coming to a stop. When, however. a
turn is to be made to the right, the
common practice is for the driver, with
Lie 1clL IldIlQ partly eAD6uQ6Q, 10 Qe~
scribe small circle In the air, which
indicate to the driver of car which
may happen to be following along fairly
closely that the machine ahead plans to
take a turn to the right.
Among those who are also involved
In these rules Of the road are the Pc
destrians. When approaching pedes-
TRAN who Is traversing the highway
and when coming to an intersection on
the highway or curve or corner, it is
a good idea to blow the horn moderate
~, If there is any doubt as to their
knowledge Of your intended route
Some judgment must be applied in
sounding the automobile horn. FIRE.
quently the blast from such an instru-
ment has the effect of frightening and
confusing pedestrians and causing
more accidents than would otherwise
be the case. Pedestrians have certain
rights, and the courteous motorist will
respect them.
1t is essential that motorist strict
il, observe all trafic lights, and that
When red Is against him he wait until
tile color changes Whether it is proper
to take a left-hand turn or a right
hand turn when the light Is against
the driver varies in different locali-
ties. In the main, it can be taken for
granted that the driver turn neither
to the right nor to the left when oppo-
site the red colored signal.
(CopyriRht, 1929, New York Tribune, Inc }