Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-28
TRAFFIC ORDINANCE
SEEKS ESSENTIALS
Scientific, Practical and e.
fectiVe Remedies Sole
Purpose.

The model municipal traffic ordinance,
| which was drafted under the auspices
of the National Conference on Street
and Highway Safety in 1928, is the
result of comprehensive and careful
effort to visualize the traffic problem in
American cities and towns in its mag
| nitude and detail, and in two of its
fundamental aspectS-lawS and regula-
tions-provide a scientific, practical
and effective remedy. The ordinance
| ton Of planning adequate and sufficient
streets, but Is confined In its provisions
to the essential factors of uniform reg
ulationS and laws and comprehensive
measures for supervision and enforce
ment.
Drawn After Study.
The ordinance was drawn after q
careful study of methods of traffic ad-
ministration and regulation in more
than 100 of the cities and dense areas
of population of the country. It's pur-
pose Is to provide the municipalities
and local communities with a pattern
for balanced and co-ordinated Supervi-
sion and regulation of street trafic, and
at the same time afford the maximum
convenience and economy in the use of
Three basic factors are recognized by
experts who have studied conditions in
different centerS of population, espe-
cially in larger cities, as entering into
sound solution of the street trafic
problem. These factors are:
First-The necessity for adequate and
better designed streets, SUFFICIENT to meet
the requirements Of the increasing num-
Der of motor vhicles. This Is essentially
task for engineers and technical ex-
perts and does not come within the pur-
view Of the ordinary powers or func-
tons OF trafnc bureaus and police de-
partments.
Second-Modern and uniform laws
and regulations, fitted to present con-
ditions, simple in their application and
easily understood and obeyed.
Third-Balanced and co-ordinated
administration and control, affording
safe and eficient use of the streets,
giving the maximum protection from
accidents, injuries and deaths and
affording the largest degree of con-
venience in street use.
Govern Elements Of Laws.
The second and third factors in the
foregoing come within the province of
the model municipal traffic ordinance
They govern the elements of laws and
rules, administration and supervision
and regulation and control. The ordi-
nance does not offer panacea for the
trafhc problem. Rather, it lays down
comparatively simple group of laws
ana regulations which, by study and
analysis at the outset, were found to
conform with sound basic principles
and since have been found adequate
| in application and operation in the
cities and towns that have adopted
this measure as means OF dealing
with the immediate traffic problem.
Uniform and standardized rules and
regulations for cities and towns have
been sought for by municipal authori-
ties since the first swelling wave of
the traffic problem rolled in on them
less than 10 years ago. 1t has been
recognized as an essential factor in the
| ultimate solution of and adequate
remedy for the problem.
The comparatively simple methods
OF control in effect a few years ago,
based primarily on the needs of the
horse-and-buggy days and largely
hedged around the single basic rule of
keep to the right" gave way quickly
to complex and intricate mechanisms.
| bulky codes and multitude of special
| rules and special regulations as the
| tide OF trafhc grew in volume.
These devices and rules were varying
| and complex, and not infrequently dia-
| metrically opposite in their application
| and effect In different and even ada
cent jurisdictions. Municipal author
| tiles from the very outset Of their efforts
to deal with the problem and find a
| solution have recognized the desirable
| fly and need for uniform State laws
| The drafting of the Model Municipal
| Trafic Ordnance was to meet this need
for uniformity. and affords scientific
and effective remedy.
Adopted by 500 Cities.
| Since its preparation three years ago,
/ the ordinance has been adopted in its
| entirety or in substantial part. b. 800
| towns and cities in the United States,
while three StateS-NeW jersey, New
| York and Wisconsin-have written its
provisions into their State laws, with
the effect of providing uniformity in
municipal trafic regulations by State
| enactment.
However, evidences of the confusion
and the conflicting rules and regula-
| lions that sprang into existence as the
4 tide of vehicular traff1c increased at an
even greater rate than the cities and
towns could comprehend 1t, or keep
abreast Of 1t, are still to be found
Complex systems OF signals, compli-
Gated rules, and hasty and often ILL
advised expedients at control are still
In operation in many communities and
4 often opposite in their application and
effect from the rules and regulations
employed In nearby towns and cities
A perusal of local ordinances and
rules in effect in the various jurisdic-
tions between Washington and New
York has revealed that the Washing
ton driver would incur the danger of
arrest, and Of fine or Imprisonment 2S9
times II in the ordinary course of things
he adhered to his home citys traf1ic
rules throughout his Journey In addi-