Evening star., 1947-10-21
Trade Board Group
Urges S895,o00 for
Traffic Agency in '49

The Executive Committee Of the
Washington Board of Trade recon-
mended to the Commissioners today
that a 1949 budget of 1895 900 be
asked for the Department Of We
hicles and Traffic. This would be q
s153, 800 increase over the present
budget.
The recommendations, contained
in a report Of the boards Traf11c
Committee. were approved by the
Executive Committee at a meeting
yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Commissioners
Advisory Board yesterday proposed
a year-around traffic safety pro-
gram, to be sponsored by different
District organizations. The groups
would be under the guidance of the
Advisory Board and the Department
Of Vehicles and Traffic.
McCloskey, Offers Plan. :.
An even more ambitious program
for continuing the traffic safety
campaign was offered by K. G. Nc
Closkey, safety inspector for the
Capital Transit Co. He recon-
mended a peoples safety organiza-
tion," which would seek. the CO.
operation of civic, fraternal church,
school, club and other organizations
of the District.
The biggest single increase in the
Board Of Trade report, $35, 900, was
urged to revamp the system of street
signs. Committee members said the
idea was to standardize signs all
over the city, to eliminate confusion
the results now from use of "dif-
ferent signs meaning the same
thing"
Other increases related principally
to funds for additional personnel.
Even with the increased person.
mel asked for, the work load per
employe will remain substantially
higher than for similar services in
other Jurisdictions" the report said.
1.-The department should have
enough personnel and facilities so
that the public will not have to
line up in long lines to get titles,
registrations, operators permits or
vehicle inspections"
Traffic Lights Considered.
The committee indorsed a $4,000
authorization for planning a CEN
tral control system of, traffic lights,
but noted that no provision is made
in the Ludget for establishing the
system.
"A compensating fact, however" 4"
it said, "is that within the next year
or two there may be such advances
in the technique of traffic control
that years delay may give the
District ultimately a much better
system than would be possible now
The committee also asked that a
$12,044 item-for personnel to per-
NIT re-examination of drivers every
six years-be left in the budget, but
directed that the boards Motor
Vehicle Administration Subcommit-
tee re-study the proposal.
The board also adopted laws and
regulations committee report uphold
ing traffic rules which govern ambu.
lances and police and fire depart
ment vehicles.
Curbs Ambulances.
Chief Engineer Clement Murphy oi
the Fire Department had recon.
mended, after a series of accidents
which included collision of a fire
truck and an ambulance, that ambu.
lances be required to obey traffic Sig
mails. Under present regulations only
Fire Department Vehicles, responding
to an alarm, may ignore red lights
Police vehicles and ambulances must
stop but may cross against the
light when ,"crossing can be safely
made without interfering with traf-
fc."
Nathan M. Lubar, committee
chairman, also reported that his
committee expects to have in about
two months, a complete new trafne
code for the District, ready fol
presentation to the Commissioners
The re-codifying has taken a year
and a half.
The committee on engineering
and accident records reported ap-
proval by its members Of a "clean
sweep" Of District stop signs which
are not definitely needed.