Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
By A. W. KoEHI.ER,

Secretary National Conference on Street
and Halfway Safety.
with the sessions Of the legislatures
for the present year nearly all closed,
attention of those interested in improve
meYt OF motor trafac conditions Is now
being directed particularly TO the adop-
ton of the model municipal trafnc ofdi-
nance and the manual on street tTafnc
signs. signals and markings by cities and
towns. The following suggestions Is to
practical measures for adoption are
made by the National Conference on
street and Highway Safety in response
to numerous requests from orRantza-
tions and individuals in all sections Of
the country interested in trafiic matters:
Available August. 1928.
The Model Municipal Trafic Ordi.
nance" first became available in August,
1928. Along with the Uniform Vehicle
Code" and the reports OF special con-
ference committees dealing with various
aspects of the traffic situation, 1t was
revised in certain respects in 1880 by
the third National Conference on Street
and Highway Safety. After careful re-
view by the conference in 1880 to ascer-
tain whether it might be desirable to
revise the ordinance, 1t was found that
in general little change was needed. The
lew CUAIlkCS Which, WCAG ACB0AoCA -
desirable were made in the light of ex-
perience with the ordinance on the part
Of cities and towns which had adopted
It prior to May, 1880. These changes
were made in order that the ordinance
as revised might meet present-day con-
ditions more fully. The ordinance has
been adopted to date in whole or in
substantial part by numerous cities and
towns, both large and small, throughout
the country.
Essential Part.
The essential part Of the model ordi..
nance consists of the sections dealing
with matters strictly within the prov
ince of municipal trafilc regulation, such
as authority Of police, designation. Of
croSswalks. safety zones, trafiic lanes
and prohibition Of left turns, restric-
tons on loading or unloading in certain
places, regulation of stopping and park
ing of buses and taxicabs, parking pro-
hibitions and restrictions applying to all
trafic, designation Of through and one
way streets, limitations on turning
around and backing. Au of the above
need to be covered by ordinance or
regulation in each municipality, and are
not generally suitable to be dealt with
by State law. The foregoing sections
are drawn UP in such a manner as to
be adaptable TO particular local condi-
lions by the insertion Of names Of streets
or other details, according to conditions
in the locality.
Cities and towns In States which have
adopted act " of the Uniform Vehicle
Code as revised by the third National
Conference on Street and Highway
Safety and the American Bar Associa-
ton in 1890 will find it very simple TO
adopt the remaining provisions Of the
model ordinance herein referred TO and
not already included in the State law.
BY so doing they viii more completely
insure their securing the maximum benz
efits to be derived from the operation
of these modern and effective trafic
measures. They may also wish to re-
peat in their ordinances certain State
law provisions for emphasis and educa-
tional purposes.
Contents Of Appendix.
An appendix to the Model Ordinance
contains q number Of State law provt-
sions suitable for this use. These
provisions are either identical with the
Uniform Vehicle Code or adapted
It is also pointed out that In those
States where repetition Of State law
provision in municipal ordinances Is
necessary for purposes Of local enforce
ment or In the event State law provi-
sions ere inadequate, the provisions
suggested in the appendix to the Model
Ordinance or such portions as may be
desired should be included in the or
dinance.
TO the extent that the motor vehicle
law Of q State has not been brought
into full conformity with the Uniform
| Vehicle Code as revised in 1880, cities
and towns In the State will ind it de-
sirable to adopt suitable provisions by
ordinance pending their adoption by
State law
In certain States stu having state