Evening star., 1935-07-21

Will 60 10 HldhlIlS IL lCOo ildAoA dOd
due to traffic accidents which is v
one-half to two billion dollars annu
A specimen of the type OF spending
referred to is visible to Washington
motorists who have had occasion re-
Gently to use Wisconsin avenue, north
If the District line. This highway one
of the oldest in the country, has been
rated in the improved" class for dec
ades. 1t is now being completely re-
built to pattern and of dimensions
which make its previous standing ap-
pear almost primitive. Other high
ways, particularly main trunk lines
Immediately adjacent to built-up areas,
are destined for similar treatment.
There is a profound feeling in Off
cial circles that this phase of the road
program has been ignored too long
under the philosophy of expansion and
extension which has prevailed for the
past decade and half.
The highway factor In accidents is
not precisely known quantity. Some
analysis indicates that it has some
weight in approximately 20 per cent
of the mishaps that overtake motor
dom. This figure is by no means
universally accepted, especially by
that school which blames the human
element for 80 per cent of all traffic
accidents.
1t has been demonstrated with fair
conclusiveness, of course, that the
highway engineer-like his counterpart
in the laboratory of the automobile
manufacturer-isc capable of effecting
marked modification of the human
element as it relates to traffic safety.
Numerous devices have been incor-
porated into the design of highways
to achieve this objective.
The clover leaf grade separation, a
specimen of which is to be found at
the junction of the Mount Vernon
Boulevard with the Highway Bridge,
is an illustration of the highway de-
signer's ability to meet a definite
hazard. In view of motordoms dem
onstrated inability to cross or turn
with safety at points where heavy
streams of traffic flow together. the
clover leaf was devised to separate
the conflicting streams entirely.
This device, and many others, have
shown their practically in many parts
of the country. That there are not
more of them is due to the fact that
their construction is extremely ex-
pensive. They are very little less
costly today than in the past. but
highway officials are beginning to
recognize the wisdom of the observa-
tion made recently by one of the
greatest engineers in the automotive
field. With reference to spending
for modernization, the latter declared:
Certainly making changes is ex-
pensive, but many times it is less ex-
pensive than neglecting to make
them"
Washington's much-maligned cir
cles may even find place in the
highway designed for a maximum of
safety. For all the criticism which
has been heaped upon them, circles
have proved that they are handy
devices for making motorists slow
down when nothing else will accom-
L.
is imperative for traffic to reduce its
speed-among them entrances to large
cities-the circle is an instrument
not without its value.
Having reached the conclusion that
to spend money for making highways
safer is indispensable to sound policy,
the highway designer may give mo-
&ordovo q Ia rrar d0co of oY,ofhor Y,cu-
chologic potion which it has dis
covered in recent years, but used only
TO a limited extent because of its cost.
The potion in question is the
"black-and-white" highway.
This road is one which, in effect,
is done in two shades. The outer
lanes are finished with light sur
face, the center one, or two, with a
black-top coating.
Why should this type of highway
1T into the safer scheme of things?
For the very excellent reason that
research proves that the average mo-
torist will prefer the outer strip if it
is in a lighter color, that even the
confirmed road hog will not travel
appeal than the outside lane. BY
this bit of magic, pioneered in the
State of Massachusetts,, the highway
builder has discovered that he can
keep the center lane of the highway
clear for passing or for faster traffic,
which, after all, is the purpose for
which it was built.
10 he Anf,a
always limited his genius on this type
of road merely to the use Of differ
ent coloring for the various lanes.
On occasion, he has made the black
center strip less alluring by giving
the dark surface rougher texture
as we'll. This has had the effect of
producing a somewhat irritating roar
ing sound when fast spinning tires
come into contact with 1t.
The result has been to prove that
motorists will stay in the outer lane
when it. is more attractive to the eye
and less annoying to the ear.
In resorting to safety devices and
design practices of this character, the
highway builder does not believe he
will produce foolproof road. He Is
convinced, however. that great good
can be accomplished by widening and
otherwise improving what heretofore
have been regarded as excellent high
ways. In the face of a universal
Willingness now to spend money for
safety, he is embarking happily upon
q road policy which he is certain will