Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-27

the 0eSlTADlNCy OF the hoover I
disclose complete unaniniity on
but two towns opposed to the s
100 cities and four more States :
lished summaries to complete Il
uniformity and to thoroughly els
exists any chance Of the Hoov
the preferred method Of turning
So far as this investigation has
shown, only Cleweland and Connersville
Ind, have not adopted the Hoover left
turn or else had 1t as part of their
regulations before the uniform code
was drawn. The report from the latter
town does not disclose what left turn, II
any, is permitted there, the subject
being dismissed with the bare statement
that this community has not adopted 1t
Gated" Likewise there is nothing in the
reply to indicate whether Connersville
has light-controlled intersections. The
report from Cleveland presents as rea-
son for the use OF the rotary turn that
1.-The greater portion Of Cleveland traffic
is through trafflc. There are few cross
town streets and there are great num-
Der Of dead-end streets"
Larger Cities Adopt Hoover Turn.
However. the Ohio city makes no as
sertion that the Hoover turn Is "too
complicated" nor has that claim ever
been advanced locally, so that the In
diana town stands alone, SO far as has
been ascertained, in its estimate of the
workability of the standard left turn,
while, to mention just few, Chicago,
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, st. Louis.
Kansas City, Detroit, Minneapolis, San
Francisco. Los Angeles Baltimore. Bos-
ton. Buffalo and New York are recorded
as finding the Hoover left-turn method
worthy OF adoption as part Of their
traffic regulations.
Since the form of the turn used in
st. Louis, Mo, has recently come into
decided prominence, due to the discus
sion between the Washington traffic Of
flee and the American Automobile As
ISOLATION, two replies received from that
city are of peculiar interest at this time,
as they disclose that, in the opinion of
the st. Louis traffic engineer and the
Missouri, the so-called inside or short
turn Is within the terms Of the Hoover
code.
Reyburn HOFFMAN,, traffic engineer
for the city, reported, "A special traffic
committee has just completed a study
OF the Hoover code. 1t will be recon-
mended to the board of aldermen for
adoption when they reconvene this Fall.
We have always made left turns from
the left lane Of traffic and at signal
controlled intersections make the short
turn, i.e., not around the center" On
this same phase Roy F.. Britton. presi-
dent Of the State Auto Club, wrote, st.
Louis has not yet adopted the Hoover
code, but We have always had the rule
here of making the left turn from the
left traff1c lane"
Favor Uniformity Of Rules.
From Minnesota is sent the hitherto
unreceived idea that thoughtfulness for
the convenience and safety of guest
motorists within ones community has
decidedly important relation to the
safety and convenience Of both local
drivers and pedestrians. In other words,
to use the language of A. C. Godward,
executive engineer, the Minneapolis
committee, Uniformity Of rules regu-
lating traffic on streets is as necessary
as uniformity of rules relative to navi-
CATION or the operation of railroads.
The highways are Travelled by our en-
tire population. Vehicular traffic, form
erly local, Is now Nationwide. During
the Summer season foreign cars from
all States and from Canada are almost
as numerous on Minnesota trunk high
ways as are our local vehicles. Safety
and convenience for our guests and our
selves demand that we be governed in
our actions as vehicle operators and
pedestrians by similar rules and regu-
ilations:, Without uniformity we would
have chaos"
Mr.. Godward further reports the
Hoover left turn as being part of the
state law, as he wrote, Minnesota
adopted the uniformity highway act in
1927 and the city of Minneapolis was
among the first to adopt the uniformity
traffic ordinance. Left turns must be
made from the left traffic lane"
That the day when there will be uni
formity in State traffic rules would be
hastened II Congress would pass regu-
!atlons governing speed, lights. rules of
the road and driving signals of all
VehlcleS travelling in interstate COM
merce, is the contention or Roy F. Brit
ton. president, Automobile Club of Mis-
souri,, who replied that 1T is a matter
OF the greatest Importance to have uni
form municipal traffic regulations, since,
II the driving rules were the same
throughout the country, the driving
habits Of motorists would be 50 formed
that many accidents would be avoided"
Uniformity Makes for Safety.
Uniformity affects equally the Pc
destrian and motorists and makes for
the safety Of both, is also the opinion
OF Reyburn Hoffman, trafic engineer
OF st. Louis, who gave as his view that
lack OF uniformity breeds uncertainty
which consumes time and results in
accidents whether In, factories, home
or on the highway. With increased
volumes and speeds of vehicles, uncer-
tainty intensifies confusion and in
creases congestion and accidents. Stan
dardization of signs and signals and
uniformity of rules will eliminate un-
From the viewpoint of an insurance
man. s. r. Heller, special agent. North
western Mutual Life Insurance Co..
writes from Norfolk. Va, that absolute
uniformity Of the fundamentals of traf-
fic law Is deemed of prime importance
because the automobile Is no longer q
local means of transportation. because
1t will decrease those accidents due to
ignorant breaches Of the law and be-
cause 1t tends to permit safe speed In
the use Of the auto" From Wilbur r.
Whittle, manager Philadelphia claim
division Of the Maryland Casualty Co.,
comes support gof this same thought In
report which states that lack OF uni
formity causes confusion which Ger