Evening star., 1932-03-13
TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT NEED
AN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Executive Committee of the National Con-
ference on Street and Highway
Safety Issues Statement.

number Of overturned cars as wen as
the number Of persons killed and
injured while making necessary road
side emergency repairs.
Bridge improvements
Narrow bridges and culvert tops
close TO the edge Of highways have
oeen responsible, in many parts of the
country, for serious traffic accidents
and fatalities. Widening these highway
bridges over small rivers, creeks and
| culyerts, and removing the dangerous
aoutments from the roadside would
give useful employment to skilled as
well as unskilled laborers and would
materially add to the safety Of the
highway user. In Ohio a Statewide
program involving rehabilitation of 295
bridges at a cost Of $4,000, 900 Is re-
ported in progress. 85 per cent of the
Workmen being secured from local un-
employment relief committees,
In certain sections of the country
at this time OF year snow removal Is a
problem of no small magnitude. The
erection and maintenance of snow
fences on State and country high ways,
together with other efficient snow
fighting measures which keeps these
highways as well as city streets open
for traffic during the months of heavy
snowfall, has been found to be paying
proposition. In most of the smaller
cities and In substantial part In the
larger ones snow removal calls for
men with picks and shovels. Except
in sections Of continuous heavy snow
fall this work is irregular but gives
short time employment when suffering
Is most acute.
Construction and Repair.
Road construction programs can be
carried on the year round in some sec
tions of the country where climatic
conditions permit. Construction of new
roads, not only main trunk routes but
secondary feeder roads, during the
usual of season, makes these new traffic
channels available sooner and affords
opportunity for work to many who
might otherwise be idle during the of
season period. Improvement of exist
ing roads in special places may like
wise be undertaken with similar re-
sult1ng advantages to the community,
both those employed in the work and
those enjoying better transportation
facilities as result of their labors
Most Of the projects proposed thus
far relate to conditions outside Of cities
and towns. There are, however, a con-
siderable number of traffic improvement
features to which cities and towns may
advantageously devote their attention.
The following measures may be under
taken with relatively small expense, and,
In addition to providing needed jobs for
otherwise unemployed citizens, they
make for better traffic conditions and
add to the safety of all users Of the
c1ty's streets:
A ready measure for traffic relief at
intersections and very much needed in
many cities and towns is the setting
back Of curbs. The simple expedient Of
lengthening curb radii makes 1t possible
Tor vehicles to negotiate turns more
easily and safely, thus making for
greater safety and lessening congestion.
Danger Points.
There are places Of special hazard In
nearly every city and town known to
the residents of the immediate vicinity,
but unfamiliar to those in other sec
tions. These special hazards, such as
blind corners, steep inclines with sharp
curves, embankments at the end of
dead-end streets, unfenced abandoned
quarrieS and other hazards not mani
fest to the casual observer should be
marked with suitable warning signs
bearing brief yet clear and unmistak-
able legend.
The National Conference on Street
and Highway Safety has q standard
Manual on Street Traffic Signs, Sig
nails and Markings" which is available
on request to interested officials Of cit
les and towns or any one else interested
in this subject. All communities with
antiquated traffic signs should replace
them with standard signs as rapidly as
possible. In those cities having stand
ard signs there is opportunity for Sc
curing greater benefits from an
extension Of their use The repair and
repainting of existing signs likewise
would be beneficial.
Many cities and towns have estab-
lished pedestrian safety islands, paint
ed or otherwise plainly marked cross
walks, provided pedestrian subways at
places of heavy vehicular traffic, espe-
cially for school children; removed street
obstructionS, and have taken other steps
which have paid big returns in propor-
tion to the modest sums spent upon
them.