Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
INCREASED TRAFFIC
I. TO MARK THIS YEAR
Erskine Bureau of Research
of Harvard Reviews Motor
Problems.

greatly increased street and highway
| traffic This is the opinion of DR.. Mil
| Ter McClintock, director of the Albert
Russell Erskine Bureau for Street
+, Traffic Research in Harvard Univer-
sity, expressed in his annual review OF
the trafic-ccntrol problem.
His conclusion is based on the fact
| that there has been relatively little de-
crease in traffic volume on key cOEE-
mercial routes despite the business oe'
preston and that national mileage has
actually increased, as indicated by gaso-
line figures. This means he says, that
the motor car is definitely out OF the
luxury or pleasure transportation class
and is q possession which the American
public will not sacrifice under pressure.
With an upturn in business conditions
the normal volume OF traf1c Will have
added to it large number OF new pur-
chasers who have deferred purchase
during the past year.
Will Be Prepared.
without question the more pro-
gressive cities and States will be pre-
pared for any volume of traffic which
may come to them during the new
year, or indeed in the years that fol-
low" states DR.. McClintock. 1T is
safe to say that we are over the hump
that there can no longer be any doubt
of the capacity of cities and States TO
achieve progressive improvement in
street and highway safety and con-
gestion. 1t will demand constant work,
but the elements to assure success are
available
Most encouraging among these is
the great growth in technical skill In
connection with the design and traf1c
e. ~
movement This was demonstrated
during the year 1880 by the organiza-
ton of the Institute of Trafic En-
gineers, a national engineering society
with several score members profession
ally engaged by cities, States or private
organizations in the relief Of traffc
conditions. This organization marks .
new and now definitely recognized
branch Of engineering, and is especially
significant In view Of the fact that q
decade ago trafic engineering had
possibility. A Nation wide observation
Of traffic conditions indicates that in
those cities where definite responsibility
for traffic Improvement has been placed
in the hands Of q competent technician
conditions have uniformly improved.
Specific Advances.
"Specific advances In the field Of
traffic engineering during 1880 include
the organization Of the traffic engineer
ing division Of the Department Of Pub
lie Safety in Philadelphia, the organ
ization of a trafic engineering program
in the National Bureau of Casualty and
Surety Underwriters and the establish
ment Of traffic Office in the Connectt-
cut Department of Motor Vehicles.
During the past year legislators
have likewise been busy in traf1c mat
ters. Added hope for real national
uniformity in regulations resulted from
the meetings Of the third National
Conference on Street and Highway
Safety, sponsored by the United States
Department of Commerce. The con-
ference reviewed and confirmed prac-
tically all of the uniform provisions OF
earlier conferences. An organized drive
is now under way by organizations as
ISOLATED with the conference to obtain
passage of laws requiring the licensing
| Of drivers in those States which have
no such provisions. :.
THE national conference promul-
gated a new uniform speed regulation
which is believed to mark a great ad-
vance in this difficult field of legisla-
| ton. The new rule provided that no
vehicle shall be operated so as TO en-
erty on the highway Speed limits are
not fixed and a speed which endangers
| warrants conviction even though II
may be very low On the other hand
where no danger is involved, an op-
orator may drive at relatively high
speeds without fear of arrest.
In order that the really reckless
driver may be apprehended certain in
| dicated speeds are given for various
districts. Speeds in excess OF those In
dicated do not warrant arrest. but II
| in so driving the operator violates any
Of the laws Of the road, as for example
crowding, or otherwise endangers OF
collides with any person or property, he
| is subject to arrest and will be much
more severely punished than II the NO.
lation were at a lower speed. In other
words, in the new rule speed is not an
offense in itself, but is used as a meas
ure Of the seriousness OF dangerous and
prohibited practices. Eleven states
have already abolished speed limits
and 1t is believed that the new rules
will be rapidly adopted.
Parking Troubles.
I'm all cities the troublesome problem
Of parking continues to be irritating
The past year has shown no change
comparable to the prohibition Of park
/ lflR WHICH, UOOh pldCCs III OAiS NlA4No5O ASOSf
district In the preceding year and which
| is still in force. There has been. how
ever, a definite development Of business
facts on parking conditions and
change in attitude which will make
possible more accurate restrictions and
| regulations in the future.
I'm all cities the capacity Of the
major street to bring trafic to the bust
ness district is far greater than the
capacity OF the business district to pro-
vide storage space. This fact will den
nitely limit the capacity of central dis
trlct business property to develop until
it is altered. The broad policy that
agencies creating parking loads Should
provide for them in of street facilities
was specifically confirmed during the
past year by report Of the Nationa
Capital Parking and Planning Commits
sion of Washington, D. c. This report
recommended that the Government
provide storage space for the 5000 We
hicles which will be used by the 25,00(
Government employees occupying the
administrative group now under con-
struction.
THE development of super-high.
ways plans and actual construction
during the past year has been notable
though all of the major projects wert
under way in the preceding year
Structures such as the west side high
l A.. lnf,