Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-09
Wartime Rules
On Traffic Urged
By Eastman
Seeks Elimination
Of Stops to Save
Cos and Rubber
STORY on Poee A-l)

Joseph B. Eastman, director Of
the ONCE of Defense Transport
tation. today called on all cities
and States to revise their traf-
fic regulations in line with war.
time conditions.
Mr.. Eastman, in asking States and
cities to meet certain policies, called
for the elimination of unnecessary
traffic signals. flashing lights, the
adjustment of timing of lights, more
effective use Of traffic officers, elimi-
nation OF unnecessary stop signs and
the designation of war transporta-
ton routs 'in every municipality"
The necessity for conserving ve-
hicles, rubber and fuel and the enor-
nous expansion of war production in
some areas have created important
changes in street traffic" Mr.. East
man said in his statement to State
and municipal officials. -
Adjustments in traffic control
methods have not kept pace with
these changing conditions" he
added. 80.
This" he warned. lis wasting
rubber. gasoline and time In the
national interest this waste cannot
be permitted to continue"
Standards for Lights. a.
Trafiic signals. the statement de.
clared, should be eliminated If they
fall below these minimum stand.
ards: -
"(O Total traffic entering the
intersection from all directions
should average at least 1000 We
hicles an hour for eight hours, Of
which at least $50 enter from the
minor street, or
"tb) Pedestrians crossing the
major street should average at least
300 an hour for at least six hours
day. and vehicles entering the
intersection from the major street
should average at least $50 an hour
for the same six hours"
The statement suggested that the
signal cycles should be as short
as possible" and that at the, usual
intersection, cycles Of from IS to so
seconds should b enough. !"
Seeks t.. RAauce stems
1 FIXED time signals within nue,
atAfter r9iae ~ one ,an6tS 4 3
added, and controlling TIT soI5SS
roadway, should be ,co-rdinstsd &
provide progressive traf1ic moves
ment and. reduce the number az
vehicle stops" rs.
Mr.. Eastman wrote that the aS-
signment of trafhc police at fixed
posts should make the most efs
fective use Of manpower,," and
added that such police should not
be assigned to signalize intersections
except where pedestrians or. turning
vehicles are unusually numerous"
He also recommended that police
make a special effort to expedite
buses, streetcars and trucks on
routes serving war plants.
Primary War Routes.
Stop signs. the statement con-
tinued, should be removed exceut
where warning signs would be In
adequate, where accidents records
indicate a need, or at railroad
crossings where stop sign is re-
quired by law.
"A system of primary war trans.
portation routes, to which preferred
trafnc control treatment would b.
given should be designated in every
municipality" Mr. Eastman said.
Such routes should consider the
needs of both workers and vehicles
carrying war materials"
The ODT said traffic regulations.
such as those governing turning.
through streets and parking.
should be reviewed and revised to
expedite vehicle movements where
the war has either increased or
decreased traffic"
John Mitten, engineer in the Dis
trict governments Department OF
Vehicles and Traffic, said today that
east and west traffic in H street NE.
already had been speeded as a re.
suit of studies now under way.
Twelve traffic lights have been elm
mated at corners about the city
where cross-trafic is now much
lighter than when they were put up.
Mr.. Mitten said the ODT recon-
mendatlons, which William S. Van
Duzer, head of the department,
heIped draw up, were standards
which the TRAFFIC Department has
been following for some time. Traf.
nc is being checked on several arr
terles by personal checkers and by
the pneumatic checking machines,
he said. More changes undoubtedly
Will be made, he said, due to the
lighter traffic at present.