Evening star., 1934-11-18

upon Cne requirement LOT SlSIldllllS
1t IS doubtful that any motorists are
unaware of them or their need. Sig
mailing also should be employed when
driving into one traffic lane from an
other. But the fact remains that
great majority of drivers fail COM
pletely to signify their intention OF
making turns. Why this is so is diff
cult to comprehend. 1t may be pure
laziness, for it is hard to believe that
one driver would imperil his own
safety and that of others in such a
willful manner.
Signals Always Necessary.
At times the driver may think that
a signal is unnecessary because there
is no other car behind him. Such
is not always the case. A car may
be coming slightly to the right or
left that cannot be seen in a rear
vision mirror. 1t would be far better
to signal before making a turn at all
times whether there is another car
within miles or not. Practice is said
to make perfect, and perfection in
this matter would tend greatly to
reduce traffic accidents and possible
fatalities.
The habit of not signaling un-
questionably is one of the greatest
traffic hazards of present-day motor
ing. 1t is seldom that any one is
able to drive even a short distance
without witnessing many cases of this
kind of neglect. Unfortunately, it
is to be more the case during the
cold days ahead. Windows are tightly
Shut to keep out the wintry winds and
motorists are more loath to pull
them down to make the proper
signals.
Policemen should be more efficient
IN enforcing the regulation of signal
ing. If this course does not work
out then the penalty for offenseS of
this nature should be made more
severe. Failure to give the proper
signals preparatory to turning actually
constitutes reckless driving.
Seek Right Turn on Red.
Many motorists, with the thought
OF speeding up the flow of traffic
and thus relieving congestion, are sug-
gesting that drivers be allowed to
make right-hand turn on the red
light or stop semaphore of a police
man.
Local officials, however, are opposed
to the plan unless a green arrow is
installed to indicate such a turn.
They point out that such a plan is
against the principles of the model
vehicle traffic code, and that the best
traffic interests are those in uni
formity. New York allows such a
turn, they admit, but that city is
one OF the few in the United States
to permit such turn. Railroad prac-
tice is given as precedent.
Traffic officers here believe that
allowing a right-hand turn on both
the green and red lights would be an
extra hardship on pedestrians, and
that they have a difficult time at
present. William A. Van Duzer, traf-
nc director, states that he Is opposed
to any such scheme in the downtown
area. but that it might be worked
out in the future outside of the con-
gested areas.
An exception IS noted at the in
tersection of Pennsylvania avenue
and Twenty-second street. Here, how
ever, turn to the right off of Penn
sylvania avenue is allowed on the red
light only, and right turns on the
green light are barred. At other in
tersections an additional green arrow
permits the turn.
License Color Schemes.
Mr.. Van Duzer states that the first
OF the applications for the 1885
license tags now are in the mails
In this connection the color schemes
Of the new Identification markers, as
compiled by the American Automo-
bile Association, might prove of in
tereSt.
Designers of automobile license
plates for 1885 have caught the spirit
of those in the fashion marts and
the same colors will predominant in
the parade of cars and the parade of
the well dressed, according to the
motoring organization
The A. A. A. points out that black,
green and blue will stand out on
license plates, as it will in the ap-
parel worn at fashionable teas and
along the avenues.
Thirty-three States and the Dis
trict of Columbia will change their
1884 color motifs. says the associa-
ton, and 13 States will retain their
1884 color schemes, reversing them
as to numerals and background. In
all, 25 motifs will be used. Two
States, Arizona and West Virginia,
will retain the present colors on 1885
plates.
Black and yellow, found by the
United States Bureau of Standards to
offer good visibility, will lead the
parade. being used in five States
namely, Colorado. Florida, Kentucky,
South Dakota and West Virginia
Second honor will go to white on
green, white on blue and black on
white motifs, each to be used in four
States. Orange on black, blue on
white and white on black will each be
used in three States. Beyond these
more standard colors will be a wide
variety of hues, such as blue on
cream in Arkansas, colonial blue on
old gold in Delaware, black on robins
egg blue in Indiana, and gold on
maroon in Minnesota.
The District of Columbia, which has
used black and yellow combination
for seven or eight years, reversing
them as to numerals and background,
will use a green on white motif in
1850.
The Canal Zone will use plates with
light blue letters on a canary yellow
background; Hawaii, black on yellow;
the Philippines, orange on black, and
Puerto Rico, black on yellow.
List of State CoIors.
Following are the 1885 color combi-
nations for passenger cars in all
States, as reported to the American
Automobile Association by State Off
cials:
Alabama, white on dark green: Ari-
zona, black on copper; Arkansas, blue
on cream; California, orange on
black; Colorado. black on yellow;
Connecticut, white on maroon; Della
ware, colonial blue on old gold; Flor
ida, black on grapefruit yellow;