Evening star., 1932-01-10
UNITED STATES BEING MADE
OVER FOR MOTOR TOURISTS
Many New Problems in Safety Follow Re-
vampine of Routes Unrecognizable
by Travellers of Today.

the road brings the motorist 10 point
where he must slow down to make
sharp left turn through a short tunnel
The invitation to drive fast just before
this point Is something Of trap for
those who are not alive to the i'm
portance OF watching their step-on-it
Warnings Lacking.
The rapidity with which the newer
roads have been put down has made 1t
difficult for highway and motor vehicle
officials to mark all of the new danger
points. Some of the most dangerous
places look the safest, and 1t is only
after exhaustive study that safety ex-
perts are able to determine where to
place warnings.
A noticeable absence Of warning
signs along some Of the newer roads
indicates that officials are reluctant to
run any risk of posting false alarms
by way Of warnings. When sign Is
erected it must mark point which
by experience or by intelligent observa-
ton has been determined to require
special caution.
New roads which reduced the grades
over series of mountains were found
to encourage drivers to abandon the
former plan OF going into a lower gear
when descending. The result was that
on the second successive descent most
cars ended up by having their brakes
burn. The warning to use lower gears
was then posted at the start of the
first decline and repeated at the sec
ond. Those who failed to observe the
warning on the first hill often obeyed
on the second decline, which was time
enough to spare trouble.
Because many Of the newer roads
are inherently safer, owners often make
the mistake Of doing too much gaping,
not realizing that they are travelling
considerably faster than formerly. Every
one is driving faster, with the result
that there is less time to think ones
way out of a predicament. A new
America for the motorist requires new
standards of safety.
Throughout the country there are
thousands Of new filling stations and
ROADSIDE stands where drivers are apt
to stop suddenly. There are new curves
and many new places where horning Is
necessary Improved routes are heavi-
ly Travelled by busses and trucks. They
also have way Of attracting pedes-
trians.
Effect of New Routes.
New routes have changed the dis
tance between points to an extent
bAlC WIlO bIdHCS OH u
schedule needs to make numerous re-
visions 1t took half hour to drive
10 miles over an old route from the
heart Of an Eastern city to country
club, and 10 minutes over new three
mile cutoff to return.
Because of such time-saving fea-
lures it is now possible to take in
many of the side trips which formerly
had to be forfeited 1t Is also pos
sible to increase the schedule for the
day, the week end or vacation so that
more of tourland can be covered. To-
days tourist not only sees different
America but more of it.
The building of new bridges vehicu-
lar tunnels, viaducts, ramps and ex-
press highways has converted many an
eyeSore into pleasing sight, very much
as skyscraper makes magic of
vacant lot. Road materials have been
able to cover up Mother Natures blem-
ishes.
You'll see a different America this
year. See for yourself.
Copyright, 1882, the Russell serviee.)