Evening star., 1932-12-04

| the IlguL Oh the DuCVOtl OE OtIeI ludIkci
on the center point. The decision as to
depends only on the opinion Of the
local officials.
with the idea of getting informa-
ton on which regulations Of traffic
could have a sound basis. study OF
violations of the present regulations
was begun in the Summer of 1882 by
the traffic department Of this city. 1t
seems obvious that If any regulation is
continually violated by most of the
drivers, there is probably something
wrong with the regulation. At least,
there Is small chance of being able to
/ enforce any such regulation. With this
in mind. study is now being made to
see which regulations are obeyed and
which violated and by what percentage
of the drivers. To get the information,
two men Zone observer and one record
err are stationed at an intersection and
the data are entered on prepared
blanks which cover 10 Of the regula-
tions deemed to be most important.
Traffic Is checked for a period of one
hour to two hours until a consider
able number of vehicles have passed.
Since 1t early appeared that the speed
| limit regulation was one of those most
| frequently violated, special observations
Of speed between intersections were
made on various streets.
Light Controlled intersections.
"At light controlled intersections, IS
per cent Of the $4,000 drivers checked
were driving in accordance with the
regulations. At uncontrolled intersec-
tions, 70 per cent Of 5000 were driving
in accordance with the regulations. At
stop-street intersections, 81 per cent of
3.700 did not violate the rules. The
latter two percentages were decreased
because of more drivers exceeding the
speed limit. If allowance is made for
the percentage over the speed limit, all
three cases show from 80 to IS per cent
driving lawfully. 1t Is thought that
the allowance for the violation of the
speed limit of % miles per hour can
be made as the accident records do not
show such a violation to be the cause
Of accidents at the particular corners
studied. This figure agrees with the
record Of accidents in the oity which
shows that approximately IS per cent
Of the drivers have no serious trouble,
but that the other Is per cent furnish
the repeaters in accidents. 1t has also
been shown by several years records in
Connecticut that the accidents there
cent of the drivers licensed by the
State.
High up in the list of causes of ac-
cidents in Washington is failure to yield
right of way. Tables show that from S
to 13 per cent of the drivers fail to yield
right of way to the other vehicle or to
pedestrians. To eliminate this type of
driver, 1t seems some test would be
necessary which will reveal his social
attitude. Since this has not been found
feasible, the way out may be to revoke
his license after an accident has oc-
CURED for which he is responsible.
Dangerous Practice.
"a dangerous practice at light-con-
trolled intersections is entering late on
the amber signal or on the red signal.
1t Is shown 309 entered on the amber
late enough so that they left on the
red signal. There were ITO who enter
ed on the red signal. While the total
is only about 4 per cent of the total
tial accidents during a 6-hour period of
observation on only four intersections.
Entering stop street without due
care Is also dangerous practice. It Is
shown that Of 1,184 entering the stop
streets, 526 ga per cent? made q COM
plete stop, 373 (32 per cent? made a
partial stop under control, and 285 GA
per cent? entered without stopping.
Hence in this case, 76 per cent of the
drivers were careful and "a per cent
were potential trouble makers. Isn't it
possible that stop signs on arterial
highways and streets should be replac-
ed with signs such as Caution
Through Traffic? When 56 per cent
Of the drivers disobey a stop sign, Is
such q sign desirable? The A per cent
stop would obey q caution sign. The
80 per cent who made a partial stop
would continue so with caution sign
and would not be breaking the law as
they now are. The "a per cent who
pay no attention to a stop sign will not
stop for any other sign short of the
traffic officers whistle.
"On the two secondary streets there
Is little tendency to exceed the limit
OF 20 miles per hour. However, on Z
out Of arterial streets where the limit
Is "a miles per hour and stop signs are
on entering streets the average speed
ranges from IS to 20 miles per hour.
Moreover, from 10 to 81 per cent Of
and breaking the law. 1t Is seen that
the average speed is 29.3 miles per
hour. If the speed limit were set at
80 miles per hour on this street, a traf-
nc officer might be able to curb the 30
per cent who exceed that speed, but he
cannot cope with the "a per cent who
exceed the present limit. 1t is seen
that 81 per cent are driving between
20 and 80 miles per hour and only Is
per cent go over IS miles per hour.
From the above figures it would seem
that reasonable rate which most
drivers would be willing to observe on
this street Is near the 30-mile per hour
limit. On Wisconsin avenue, with the
limit 80 miles per hour, the average
speed is 80, with only AZ per cent ex-
ceeding the speed limit and only IA
per cent over IS miles per hour.
Average Speeds Tested.
ON the streets controlled by traffic
lights timed for "a miles per hour,
the average speeds are from % to rs,
although from 40 to 10 per cent of the
drivers exceed this limit between inter-
sections. The maximum speeds on
such streets are almost as high as on
arterial streets, but in both cases, a
very small percentage of the drivers
are offenders
BY studies similar to these it Is
hoped to be able to reduce the number
| of accidents in Washington. These
accidents for a number Of years have
resulted in an annual toll OF approxi-
mately 80 deaths and some 5000 seri-
Gus injuries. Up to November IL.
1882. there have been 106 deaths, 1901
injuries and 6,8l6 accidents. This Is q
considerably higher rate than previous
years have shown"
| This report is of great interest and
should receive the commendation of all
residents Of this city interested in
traffic.