Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-05
Asst Wednesday William A.
Van Duzer assumed MS


position as director of the
~ department Of vehicles and
traffic. Mr.. Van Duzer comes
here highly recommended. His past
connections with the American
Road Builders and the Pennsyl-
vania State Highway Department
should be of vast assistance to
him in working out the various
problems confronting the National
Capital.
Up to the time of taking office
MIR. Van Duzer has said little out
side of generalities. In this &C
ton he has been wise. 1t was
not the time to discourse at length
on matters pertaining to the city's
traffic. 1t was a time for study
and this is believed to have been
done by the new director in
earnest.
Many Traffic Problems.
Washington has many traffic
problems, many unlike those in
any other city. The thoroughfares
are wider, there are more circles,
and in some instances the street
cars are given peculiar privileges.
One problem Mr.. Van DuZer has
to face is seeming truth that
Washington Is a city of self
appointed traffic experts. Count
less citizens have set themselves
up as authorities on every subject
pertaining to traffic, and most Of
their theories are selfish ones.
There are some, fortunately,
who have made serious study of
conditions here, and are animated
solely by the purpose of obtaining
what Is best for the majority. Mr..
Van DuZer will do well at times to
confer with citizens Of this type
This type Is easily diStinguiShable
from the selfish motive group.
Keep traffic moving safely is
stated to be the new directors
plan. It might well be made a
motto. It is hoped that he will
receive the fullest cooperation in
the carrying out of his new duties.
A leader cannot accomplish much
unless the rank and file lend
helping hands.
ArterlaI Stop signs.
In analyZing this years traffic
deaths in San Francisco, SO per
cent of which were found to have
occurred on streets protected by
arterial stop signs, some interest
ing observations were made,
which easily could be applied to
every city and town.
The coroner stated that the
motorists placed too much conf
dence in the signs protecting
themselves and did not respect
the rights of motorists entering
the street after the stop had been
made. A municipal Judge was of
the opinion that it was apparent
that the facilities to speed up
traffic seemed to lessen the re-
sponsibility of those enjoying the
benefits.
A California newspaper in edi-
torializing upon the subject views
the arterial highway system in
cities as being possibly bad plan
and declares that the discourteous
attitude of a very large number
of drivers on arterial highways
seems to throw the scale toward
the abandonment of the system
COCKS of the Walk"
The editorial characterizes this
class of drivers as cocks Of the
walk"
put a motorist on an arterial
street." comments the Pacific
Coast paper, land he seems to
lose all sense of courtesy and the
rights Of others. Each driver ap-
pears to feel that he alone has
any rights and he Is going to have
them at all costs. Most of them
go far beyond their rights in the
belief that motoriSt entering arte-
rial highways must wait upon
their pleasure to get in. Few
know that the second the entering
car gets it's nose into the inter-
section after making the required
stop IL has the right of way and
that the arterial traffic must stop.
"This raises a pertinent question
that has interested many COM
munities. Is the arterial stop a
good thing? Undoubtedly it
speeds up traffic on one street,
but it also slows up traffic on all
cross streets and there is little
question that it creates danger
Gus traffic hazards because of the
ridiculous attitude of the drivers
on arterial streets that they are
cocks of the walk. Some cities
have abandoned their arterial
stop systems, and apparently with