Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
DEN|ESLEFT TURNS
LIKE CLEVELAND'S
Visitor From Ohio City Finds
Traffic Conditions Here
Confusing.

The alleged similarity between the left
turn rules of Cleveland, Ohio and wash
ington is disputed by motorist OF the
former city who recently visited WASH
ington and made careful study OF con-
ditions here According to him lack of
uniformity is the outstanding difference
In driving conditions in this Capital.
People who are merely visitors in
both Cleveland and Washington make
a serious error when they attempt to
compare left turn rules In the two cities,
:aid r. C. Morrison OF Cleveland, be
cause their unfamiliarity with condi-
lions causes them to overlook the basic
difference between the two cities. In
Cleveland the same rule for left turn
ing applies at all intersections at all
times, while I find here you have two
methods, which I have found very con-
fusing had heard your rule was the
same as ours. and therefore anticipated
no trouble here. However the last few
days experience has proven, to me at
least, that had less difficulty in cities
whose rule was entirely different from
the Cleveland turn but who stuck to
that one method without compromising
"Of course, I got around here and I
found your policeman very courteous
and forebearing to those who evinced
a lack Of familiarity with your local
ten or unwritten rule to deal kindly
with drivers Of foreign tagged cars, for
I know I contributed my share to sew
cral trafic snarls-all because I i,i-
stinctively obeyed some one Of our traffic
rules which you did not happen to have
in your code.
Favors Uniform Rule.
"Clearly. II all cities had substantially
the same rules, much confusion would
be avoided and 1t would make for fewer
accidents, because lack of certainty as
to lust what to do under varying traffic
conditions makes travel dangerous.
must confess that personally I cannot
see why 1t is impracticable to have
essentially the same rules throughout
the country.
were from Cleveland. have said that we.
at least, ought to be able to get around
here, since our rules are the same, but
actually your two methods Of left turn
ing have made things dificult. Seem
inely. I'm not alone in that respect
either because I've notice many cars
with Maryland, Virginia and District OF
Columbia tags making the Cleveland
turn when. as I understood 1t. your
rules do not require 1t because the in
tersection was not a controlled one or
at least was not controlled at the time.
Personally I prefer our method OF
left turning-possibly because we have
used II for many years. but It seems
to me you would do better to adopt
one method or the other so as to have
it the same all over town. True we
sometimes don't swing way over to the
right when turning left-many times
in order to expedite things. our tranc
officers motion us to make the left
turn from the center OF the street and
again we sometimes do 1t ourselves
without signals at uncontrolled cross
inss to save time Come to think OF 1t,
that would seem to indicate that the
wide swinging rotary turn retards tramc
II We ignore 1t to speed up trafnc. but.
any way, that's the way It works out.
I'm any event We have uniform rule,
which is something. It's hard enough
for a visitor to drive here with this
street all torn up and that one half
blocked without having to stage
guessing contest at every intersection
to And out what left turning rule is In
effect at the particular time you are
approaching 1t.
Finds Trouble Parking.
"And your parking! We wanted to
Ne couldn't take our car in there with
us and wherever we drove we were con.
fronted with solid curb lines OF parked
cars but no place for visiting ears. !
Then we tried to 60 to the White |
House. and before we could and rest !
ing place for the car We drove block
and hlock-likewise we finally walked !
blocks from where We did park.
Now in Cleveland there are nun1er-
Ais marking places of the streets where
all.day parkers can leave their cars.
The result is that those who wish to
leave their cars for q short time have
a reasonable chance to find space. why
don't you at least give your visitors an
even break with your business and Gov
eminent people, who. seemingly. take
ITO most OF the space with all-day park
ing? You reserve space for taxis-why
not around the principal points OF in
terest reserve space for cars with for
eian tags? Whoever does that will md
the tourists blessing him.
Aside from that. however, II you
folks in Washington are going to use
the Cleveland turn. why don't you fol-
low the rest Of our example and make
1t your method at ell intersections?
As It Is. when I have approached an
intersection in Washington where
wanted to turn left I've been carried
back to the childhood games Of emmy
meeny- nninny-mo' and what hand do
you choose And 'blindman's bun
and the picture is complete"
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