Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-10
New 0DT Order
Won tA|ter DC.
1rafficSystem
Van Duzer Reveals
New Standards Are
Now in Effect

District Traffic Director William
A. Van Duzer said today there will
be no immediate change in the sys-
TEN here because of yesterdays ODT
request for cities to revise their
traffic regulations in line with war
time conditions.
The director explained that he
helped draw up the standards set
by ODT and that all which could
be applied here on basis of exist
ing information already were in
effect. He added, however. that
traffic surveys still are in progress at
widespread points in the city and
that as rapidly as changes are found
necessary they will be adopted.
Problem here Greater.
Mr.. Van Duzer pointed out that
Washington'S system Of cross-streets
and intersecting avenues sets It
apart from most cities because Of
the large number of three-way in
tersections. There are 80 of these
in the District, he reported. and all
are of such Importance that traffic
light control must be maintained.
Another factor which makes it
impossible for Washington to adopt
more extensive elimination of traf-
fic lights and stop signs is the large
number of pedestrians on its streets.
With 305 900 Government workers
now in the city, the director said,
this type Of traffic has increased 80
per cent.
AS to the suggestion that traffic
lights be arranged to promote pro-
gressive traffic movements without
stops, Mr.. Van Duzer said this had
been under way in the District for
years. He named Sixth. Twelfth
and Thirteenth streets as thorough
fares along which it had been put
moving inward during the morn
ing and outward during the after
noon.
IL Signals Removed.
/ The traffic director reported that
so far Is signals already have been
removed in the city and that others
would be eliminated if reduction in
traffic through wartime regulation
indicated that it could be done with
safety. He said particular attention
would be given intersections near
schools and at similar points where
the utmost in traffic control is
necessary.
The District also has been at work
for some time on shortening of
signal cycles to correspond with the
reduction in traffic and has used
policemen at intersections only dur
ing the morning and afternoon rush
hours. Both of these measures were
suggested by the ODT.
I'VE are following up the stand.
ards as closely as we cam Mr.. Van
Duzer assured. The changes will be
gradual, but they will be thorough"
Other Areas Make Surveys.
Meanwhile. other cities and States
are surveying their traffic light sys-
TENS for possible Examinations in line
with Mr.. Eastman's recommended
ton. In Chicago the American Pub
lie Works Association said motorists
were anxious for signal examinations
which could be made safely. Scarcity
of materials for, traffic light and
| sign replacement, and decrease in
municipal maintenance forces were
other factors influencing reduction
OF signals, the association said, ac-
cording to an Associated Press dis
patch.
One city, Middleton, Ohio, was re-
ported studying the possibility Of
substituting blinker warning lights
for traffic signals to eliminate the
necessity of cars making complete
stops.
In Michigan. 1t was reported that
one-fourth Of the 865 lights on State
trunk lines would be turned off and
replaced bv other safeguards