Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-11
r has been thought many times
that simplicity was a kind OF
4 L. fhQ

that simplicity was kind OF
virtue to be desired. In the
i motor world particularly this
was thought to be the case. Many
people looked to the simply manu-
featured cars devoid of compl1-
Gated parts and attachments.
Many people looked to Simplif1ed
and few traffic regulations as
being the best solution of all evils.
People looked to simplified traf-
fic light signals, where there could
be the least possible chance OF
misunderstanding.
Temporarily Discarded.
But all these thoughts are be-
ing discarded, temporarily at least.
1t appears to be the day of many
problems both in the world at
large and in small personal mat
tiers. The pendulum of habit may
swing the other way in the near
future, but not SO at the present
time.
Automobiles have about as
many complicated parts as is pos
sible for the manufacturer to stuff
in under the hood. Multiple CYL
inderS, dual carburetion, COM
picked transmission and even
mixed gasoline is the order of the
day, to say nothing of four wheel
brakes. It should not be said for
a moment that the majority Of
these extra devices are not for
better cars, but surely it is not for
simplicity.
AS for traffic regulations a lot
can be said, but probably to no
advantage. Most of us know that
there are too many regulations.
This unnecessary number, to-
gether with the lack Of uniformity
in the various States, does more
than anything else to nullify any
advantage they were promulgated
for.
Traffic Light Signals.
Traffic light signals were at one
time more uniform than anything
else. The Nation took them up as
a necessity, and being made at the
same time with the same purposes
they were more or less alike. The
changing green, yellow and red
lights swung their way into be-
ing at MANY of each city'S inter-
sections. Then some cities aban-
doned the yellow light, believing
its plan in the scheme of things
unneeded. Following that few
officials of some cities adopted the
flashing yellow, the skip yellow,
and now, latest of all. here in
Washington, we have the added
green arrow.
This newcomer may be all that
is desired in days to come. 1t may
work well in conjunction with the
other lights. That remains to be
seen, but in the meanwhile, gone
is simplicity along with the other
things in the automotive sphere.
Maybe we are looking for an
Utopia or the millennium, but ii
would seem fine to have stand
preSent-da dependability with
out all the gadgetS, dohickeyS and
whatnots that are today'S fixtures
It would seem nice to have only
three or four traffic regulations
that would give safe and speedy
movement of travel. And it would
seem equally nice to have traffic
signal lights, not too many of
them at that, that with a couple
changes of color would safely keep
the intersections clear and every
body happy.
Well, there may be a traffic
Santa Claus some day, maybe.
The rising toll of automobile
accidents constitutes one of the
country's most serious problems,
according to Paul G. Hoffman, di-
rector of the National Automobile
Chamber of Commerce, director
of the National Planning Founda-
ton and responsible for the pres
ent Albert Russell Erskine Traffic
Bureau at Harvard University.
Last year accidents increased IL
per cent, fatalities per cent and
injuries Is per cent.
Good Safety Rules.
In view of the fact that a re-
cent Nationwide survey showed
that more than 80 per cent of au-
tomobile accidents were caused by
bad human judgment, Mr.. Hoff-
man has set forth the following
IL safety commandments which
should be obeyed by every driver:
l. Don't pass on hills or blind
curves-you might just as well
drive bIindfolded.
2. Don't challenge the right of
way-if in doubt, take no chances
3. Don't fail to signal all turns
the fellow behind is no mind
reader.
4. Don't cut corners-that's the
other fellows territory and he
might claim it.
5. Don't cut in sharply after
passing driver behind hates
the ditch as much as you Go.
6. Don't cut out suddenly from
behind a parked cart may be
both the start and finish of your
trip.
7. Don't weave all over the
highwav-that's why there's a
center line.
8. Don't attempt to beat a stop
light-it might beat you.
9. Don't come to sudden stops
without signaling - rear end
crashes are costly.
10. Don't lag in traff1c-vou
have no right to delay those be-
hind.
II. Don't take chance on
faulty brakes or tireS-it'S a saw
ing you'll regret in the long run.
IL. Don't be reckless at any
time-you ieopardiZe not only
your own life, but the other fell
lows as well.
"These rules involve practically
MOTOR DoN'Ts !