Evening star., 1943-03-19
Stop Signs 10 Replace
Some Traffic Lights
Here Deemed Likely
Surveys Now Being
Made to Determine
Location, Director Says

number Of traffic lights in the
District may be replaced by stop
signs at all except rush hours,
Traffic Director William A. Van
Duzer said today Surveys now
being made will determine the num-
Der and location of intersections at
which lights may be cut off part of
the time.
Mr.. Van Duzer also said the traf-
flc division is continuing SURVEYS
to determine where lights may be
discontinued altogether. Operation
Of several dozen control signals has
been discontinued since restrictions
on private automobile use lightened
the flow of traffic on Washington
streets.
ODT Issues Pamphlet.
The traffic directors announce
ment followed the issuance yester-
day of 16-page Office of Defense
transportation pamphlet containing
suggestions for simplifying control
systems to speed wartime traffic.
The pamphlet was sent to all cities
OF more than 10000 population by
ODT Director Joseph B. Eastman.
who noted in an accompanying letter
that an increasing number of COM
plants have been received recently
regarding the time wasted by war
workers in public vehicles and auto
mobiles held up by traffic lights.
Mr.. Van Duzer revealed he was
one OF the traffic experts whose con-
ferences with ODT officials led to
issuance of the booklet.
He said not all of the II ma Tor
steps outlined by ODT can be put
into effect in Washington. However,
most of the suggestions are already
oelng carried out here. he said.
Requests Are Listed.
The pamphlet asked cities to elm
mate unnecessary traffic lights.
operate lights as flashing signals in
hours of slack traffic, cut down
length of stop" and go signals.
adjust length of the green go"
periods to fit changed traffic, change
period of light. during hours when
traffic variations justify it, co-ordi-
nate stop" and "go" signals on
main thoroughfareS, save traffic
police manpoWer by not stationing
police where signals alone will con-
troll traffic, keep stop" and go"
signals at police inter-
sections as short as possible, remove
stop signs where no longer iusti-
fed, revise traffic and parking regu-
latlons to expedite war traffic. set
up primary transportation routes
along which materials and men can
be speeded to and from war plants
and use traffic control equipment on
hand rather than to buy new equip
ment.
Conditions Are Defined.
Operation of traffic signals. the
ODT said, should be discontinued
unless total traffic entering an in
tersectlon averaged at least 1000
vehicles an hour for eight hours a
day, OF which at least $50 entered
from the minor street, or unless pc
deStrlanS crossing the major street
averaged 300 an hour and vehicles
entering the intersection from the
major street averaged $50 an hour
Tor any given Six-hour period.
Mr.. Van Duzer said these stand
ards are similar to those on which
elimination of traffic lights already
has begun here.
1t is impossible for traffic lights
here to be operated as flashing lights
during some hours, Mr.. Van Duzer
said. He explained equipment that
would be necessary to make lights
flash already is being used to dim
the lights so they will conform to
dlm-Out regulations.
Timing on traffic signals will not
be reduced at present, the traffic
director declared, pointing out that
a number of lights here now change
timing at certain hours.
Mr.. Eastman, who said the pur-
pose of the ODT suggestions was to
fit traffic control to war, indicated
he would ask heads of cities to re-
port in three months what steps
thew had taken