Evening star., 1934-04-15

ny IIlC pl CoCIlG OPCI dllOAI VI tAAC
can run only on their tracks,
about congestion, to pick out Otl
from their Offices. No motoriSt
circle unless he lives around it, a
He also states that while many ma
chimes are temporarily tied up while
the lights are against them, the num-
ber of passengers on the street cars
who are aided are many times In the
majority of the number of occupants
in motor cars. He feels that the sys-
TEN has worked out to the advantage
OF the greatest number.
Speed Limits Unchanged.
Letters urging the reduction of speed
limits in outlying sections have been
received, but have been tabled by the
director. Mr.. Van Duzer does not be-
lieve action along this line is needed
at the moment. The outcome of the
proposed ban against downtown park
ing Is much in doubt. While he ap-
proves OF such plan the protests OF
merchants has caused Mr.. Van DuZer
to take the matter up with the Com
missioners. The temporary restriction
now adopted is only an experiment.
1t looks as If all-night parking will
continue to be permitted. Recent
polls show the motoring public to be
opposed to any ban. Many novel rea-
sons were offered including possible
dangers to women walking home
through dark alleys late at night.
High rents OF garages was another
reason given. But the deterioration of
loFt oil iok IN, hol I,
might prove more expensive than
garage rent.
A surprise came last week when Mai
Brown, superintendent of police, ad-
mitted that it was impossible for his
limited force to properly enforce all
parking regulations. Maybe there are
too many of them.
Virginia and Maryland are planning
action which should prove beneficial
to local motorists touring in those
States.
New Virginia Law.
The most important legislation
passed by the recent Virginia Legis-
lature concerning State highways was
the re-enactment of the grade-croSS-
ing law providing for the elimination
Of dangerous grade crossings of State
roads and the tracks of railroads.
The former law had been operating
for over four years and great deal
of work had been done under its pro-
visions. The Southern Railroad Co.
refused to comply with this act, de-
claring it was unconstitutional, and 1t
was carried to the Supreme Court of
do
clared the law invalid and it was
necessary to re-enact it to meet the
requirements OF the Supreme Court.
The Legislature established the pol
icy in this law that all grade crossings
on the State highway primary system
were dangerous to life and should be
eliminated; eliminations to be made
from time to time as the State High
way Commission has funds and allo-
cations are made to such projects.
The cost of the work Is divided on q
$3.50 basis, not including the right
of way, which is paid for by the State.
Including the right of way, the cost
has been approximately 40 per cent
for the railroad and so per cent for
the State.
Maryland Headlight Drive.
Intensifying his campaign for safe
and properly focused lights on all We
hicleS using State roads, Motor We
hicle Commissioner E. Austin Baugh-
man this week set aside the period
from April 16 to 80 for Maryland
headlight safety drive"
Mr.. Baughman, stressing the need
For iItcfad 1iuhtS in
front and rear of vehicles, pointed
faulty ones, and declared he intended
to war on cars with improper lights.
He said:
I'VE are constantly striving for
proper headlights, and an average OF
1.500 cases per month are brought to
the attention of motorists. I am set
ting aside the period from April Is to
April 80 for an intensive campaign,
and urging that every motorist have
his lights tested and properly ad-
justed. This campaign is to correct
faults and lack Of tail lights as well
as incorrect headlights. The law on
tail lights applies to all vehicles, horse
drawn as we'll as motor driven"
A. A. A. Urges Sign Control.
Following q survey which covered
virtually every section OF the coun-
try, the American Automobile Associ-
alton urges the adoption Of Nation
wide policy looking to the placement
in the State Highway Departments OF
centralized control of road signs,
markings and signals.
Conflicting jurisdictions as regards
these important adjuncts OF highway
travel lead to a wholly unnecessary
diversity Of design and application,
which in turn not only impedes the
smooth flow of traffic, but also re-
suits in confusion and accidents"
Thomas P. Penry of Detroit, Mich,
president Of the national motoring
body, declared.
Only eight States, the A. A. A.
president said, namely, Massachusetts,,
New Hampshire, Minnesota, New Jer-
sey, Washington, Wisconsin. Oregon
and Michigan, exercise anything like
a full measure of control through the
State Highway Departments, while %
States have no control at all inside
municipalities, large or small.
BY far the worst abuse growing out
Of this situation, Mr.. Henry asserted,
pertains to the multiplicity Of traffic
lights which the motorists encounter
today along the main State and in
terstate highways which happen to
run through small municipalities. He
continued:
Thousands of such traffic lights
are in no sense justified by sound
traffic engineering and do not help
the cause of safety. Too often they
are merely an adjunct to the speed
trap and the roadside court. Actual
surveys have clearly demonstrated
that stop and go signals installed
without proper study have increased
rather than decreased accidents.
Though not so important as some
other phases, Standardization and
Solution Of Yesterdays Puzzle.