Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-11
NEW RULE PERMITS
AUTOS TO CO LEFT
OF CAR STANDS
Platform Passage Allowed
Except Where Signs Di-
rect Otherwise.
DRIVERS MUST KEEP
IN TRAFFIC LANES
Rig ID Observance Demanded.
Free-Wheeling Allowed if
Machines Are Tested.

Motorists may drive to the left of
street car loading platforms. except
where specifically forbidden, under a
group of important changes in the
traffic regulations ordered today by the
District Commissioners
In addition, the Commissioners adopt
ed stringent rules governing traffic on
streets marked off into lanes and legal
lied free-wheeling in the District, with
the provision that arrangements be
made with the Bureau of Standards for
an examination of each type of this
mechanical innovation so that approva al
may be withheld In any case where the
change in gearing constitutes menace
to traffic
The new regulations provide: we
hicles may, with due caution, drive
to the left of loading platforms ex-
cept where official signs indicate other
wise
Permission Not Known.
In justification of this regulation,
William A. Van Duzer. new director
Of vehicles and traffic, informed the
Commissioners 1t was not generally
understood among drivers that they
may pass to the left Of safety zones.
1T is very desirable" Van Duzer re-
ported, lin certain places, in order to
clear traffic and to encourage a free
use of the street, to permit drivers to
60 to the left of safety zones, provid-
ing. of course, these vehicles are kept
TO the right OF the center of the street"
The new provision regulating use of
streets marked of into lanes reads
Whenever any street or highway has
been diviGsd into lanes tor traffic a We
hicle shall be driven entirely within n
single lane and shall not be moved from
such lane except where the line is
broken and not then until the driver
has first ascerta' ned that such move
men. can be made safely. Where CEN
Ter lines have been painted or indicated
Sy trafhc buttons no vehicle shall pass
e the left of such center line or traf-
l4c buttons"
Lanes Smooth Ways.
"A free and easy movement of traf-
fic," Van Duzer pointed out. is best
promo ed by moving traffic in lanes In
order to encourage drivers &c drive IN
lanes streets are now being marked at
the more important intersections. The
center OF the street is indicated by solid
lines and the lanes of traffic between
the center and the curb are broken
lines The object of this regulation is
rot 10 prohibit passing on the wrong
fSN--~@~NE
to thes left under certain cond tons
where broken lines have been placed"
The rev free wheeling provision will
be-
mo motor vehicle shall be operated
on any highway in the District with
clutch diSengaged or gear out OF mesh
except tor the purpose of changing or
shifting gears or stopping or wfiie
being lowed, or when said vehicle Is
equipped with a free-wheeling device
approved by the Department of Vehi-
cles and Traffic.
In justification of this rule. Van
Duzer wrote the Commissioners
Quite a number of the latest models
Of motor vehicles are now being manu-
featured or equipped with free wheeling
devices One of the functions of this
device is TO scientifically disengage the
clutch. AS our present regulation Is
wordec. the use of these devices IN the
District is. therefore, Illegal
Favors Free wheeling.
'Inasmuch as the devices are now in
general use and most OF these devices
are so designed that the driver can
easily change from free wheeling to
conventional drive, it is believed that
the regulation should be 50 amended as
to permit the use of such free wheeling
devices as may be considered safe.
Some of these devices are neither
safe nor satisfactory. 1t Is planned
therefore, If this regulation is approved
by the Commissioners written prior
to adoption that arrangements be
made with the Bureau of Standards to
examine each make OF free wheeling,
and that approval shall be withheld un-
less IL has been inspected and passed
By the Bureau Of Standards
The Commissioners adopted a rega-
lation forbidding parking on the east
side OF Foxhall road between Reservoir
snd Canal roads at all times, because
the thoroughfare is only Ia feet wide
snd does not have enough room for free
movement Of traflc with cars parked
on both Sioes.
One-Way Streets Opened.
The one-way restrictions on r and G
streets frofa Seventeenth To Twenty
sixth streets were lifted except on F
street between Seventeenth and Nine
teenth streets because OF the removal
Of street car tracks.
Permission for parking on Park road
hetween Fourteenth and Sixteenth
streets was altered so that cars may be
parked on the south instead Of the
north side.
Another regulation permitted one
hour parking on the south side Of In
Diana avenue from 8 am. TO 6 pm in
order 10 make available for persons de-
string TO visit the 1raffic Bureau
Parking on the north side of Newark
street, between Connecticut avenue and
Highland place was eliminated at all
hours. A similar restriction WAS placed
on Twenty-first street between MaSSa
ChusettS avenue and @ street:
No parking win b. permitted on tbs
east side OF Seventeenth street any
time from Rosedale street to Gale
street.