Evening star., 1947-02-18
keneipp Plans
Fewer Signs if
Judges Approve
To Seek Conference
On Reducing Number
Of Notices at Curb


Of Notices at Curb
Traffic Director George E. Keneipp
plans to seek meeting this week
with the judges of Municipal Court
to learn how far he can go in re-
ducing the number of traffic signs
here and still give motorists legally
adequate notice of the regulations.
Mr. Keneipp told the Commission
ers' Traffic Advisory Board last
night it was his opinion signs at
the ends of block and additional
markers in the middle of a long
block should be sufficient to apprise
drivers of restrictions.
However, that may not be agree
able to cur judges" he commented.
And, in that case, we'll have to
go along with what the judges
want us to do"
To Ask Barse for Farley.
Because of this, Mr.. Keneipp ex-
planned, he decided to ask Chief
Justice George P. Barse of Munich
pal Court for a conference before
planning action to be taken on the
basis of the current survey of the
city's 75,G00 traffic signs.
In his report to the board at It's
monthly meeting in the Municipal
Center, Mr.. Keneipp announced he
would ask the Commissioners today
to approve use of surplus 1943 IL
cense plates and some reprocessed
old plates during the 1947 registra-
ton year.
He explained these plates, with
addition of 1947 metal clips, could
be issued for new vehicles and those
coming here from other jurisdic-
tions. The board approved the plan,
in view of the shortage of metal
available for license plates.
The board also indorsed his pro-
posal to ask the Commissioners for
approval of permanent plates in
1948. He said manufacture of 1948
plates would have to be planned
promptly and told the board use Of
aluminium was being considered in
view of the current steel shortage.
Demonstrates Rejecting Plates.
Mr.. Keneipp offered demonstra-
ton of license plates treated with
a rejecting substance which was
received enthusiastically by the
board. 1t voted unanimously to
urge the Commissioners to consider
the practicability of treating 194S
plates in this manner.
Distribution of 1947 clips will be-
gin Monday by mail and over the
counter to motorists already holding
District plates, Mr.. Keneipp said.
The downtown parking situation
still is the primary Capital traffic
problem, he told the board. He
said provision of off-street truck
loading terminals must be consid-
cred, adding:
"One needs only to look at Four
teenth street NV. between F street
land Pennsylvania avenue to see
what one truck loading and un-
loading will do to traffic"
Cruising taxicabs also make
trouble in that block. Mr.. Keneipp
said. A recent eight-hour check
revealed 35 per cent of the traffic
there consisted of cabs, of which
II per cent were empty he reported.
He said he was very much con-
cerned about the failure of motor
lists to pay any particular attention
to our new hand signals" despite
the widespread publicity given
them.
Larger Markers Sought.
The traffic director told the board,
further:
l. A new and larger marker for
Federal numbered routes through
Washington is being submitted to
the Public Roads Administration
for approval.
2. Multiple direction signs are to
be replaced by new design in
which not more than three cities
will be mentioned on a single pole.
3. Major surgical operations" are
being planned in traffic control at
the intersections of Fourteenth
street and Colorado avenue NV,
l. A1CCCIAUAA dl0 IL wing SGICCbo N."s
and Fourth street, Florida and
Rhode Island avenues NV.
Mr.. Keneipp said check of
group Of selected intersections in
the Northwest section at which stop
signs are placed showed:
Where the intersection involved
an arterial thoroughfare, 73 per
cent of the motorists stopped; 20
per cent slowed; per cent ignored
the signs.
At Other intersections.
Where an arterial thoroughfare
was not involved and visibility was
good, 43 per cent stopped; 48 per
cent slowed; 8 per cent ignored the
signs.
Where the intersection was blind
but did not include an arterial
thoroughfare, As per cent stopped;
48 per cent slowed; 7 per cent ig-
nored the warning signs.
The board voted to recommend a
change in the hours of operation of
the District motor vehicle inspection
stations from the present am.-5:45
pm. to T:30 ANA pm.
Jumuicu Dockmen Strike
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Feb. 18 LP.
ALI activity at Jamaican ports
ceased yesterday as dockwork-
ers began strike for increased