Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1951-11-15
White Lines and Route 24O

mission than complaints began swamp the mail and tee
phones of the Sentinel.
The complaints went like this Traffic is slowed almost
to standst; the markings make the road danger
than ever"
Thus armed the Sentinel forth to investigate the
matter of the markings Some officials the State Roads
Commission which is headed by Russell H. Mccain of Fred
erck frank conditions along that section of 240
viii not be greatly improved until fourth traffic lane
added That possibility they conceded is somewhere the
dim future.
discussion of the matter with Washington l. Cleve-
land head of the District of Columbia division the Amer
Automobile Association dvuged fact that his office
also had received complaints that Mr. Cleveland
and State Roads Commissioner Mccain drove the con-
troversa stretch an inspection run.
This week, Mr.. Cleveland told the Sentinel he agrees
with the majority of compliments and that present cond
tons Route 2O between the County Seat and Bethesda
wholly impossible and that eve work for that
fourth traffic lane
Meanwhile, he thinks if motorists understand the
meanings of the nes-whch accordance with
set of national standards and reguations-they will be
apt to obey them.
Mr. Cleveland had this say: THE State of Maryland
adopted the Manual Uniform Traffic Control Devices last
year. This action automatically increased the safe passing
distance from 500 to 900 feet This made necessary the
marking of the system of Maryland highways to con-
form to the 900-foot markings
1T is easier to understand the meaning of the center
lines the highway if the method used establishing them
is explained truck dragging 9OO-foot cable proceeds
down the road At the end of the cable with 4oot
measuring stick This keeps his eye truck ahead
sighting at the level of the measuring stick When the truck
disappears from sight either by going the brow of
hill, around in the road he marks the spot by
having the letter B painted the Continuing along
the road he watches for the truck back sight
when he to the crest of the hill proceeds around
the bend in the road 90
TAt the point where the truck is again visible to the
at the end of the cable he has the painted on
the road These letters mark the beginning and the end of
the solid center lines along the road enable the
crew to follow the first crew and paint in the lines
"On all major roads in Maryland the center line is
broken line except four-lane highway such the Ba
more-WashngOn Parkway On four-ane highways the
ter line consists of solid double lines with other lanes marked
with broken line Whenever there restricted sight dis
lance of less than 900 feet either vertical horizontal
center of the road marked by solid line in addition the
broken line The broken line marks the center of the road
THE solid line is simply warning that there is insuf
Gent sight distance and vehicles should that line
when the solid line your side of the broken line When
there solid lines passing either direc
ton In billy sections of the State, there long wind
ing sections of road where the double lines extend for more
than mile These accident breeders too
frequently motorist becomes impatient when there is
slow vehicle ahead of him and finally attempts pass where
there insufficient sight distance he is either involved
in an accident or accident.
Threeane roads are particularly hazardous and motor
lists using them should observe the center lines with metc
lous care.
Summing up the important thing for every motorist
to remember is that the broken white line down the highway
is the center line. solid white line YOUR side of the
broken line that there isn't enough sight dis
lance ahead for you to pull of line and complete pass
ing maneuver double solid white line passing in
either direction If each driver will bear in mind that these
white lines indicate those places the road where
safe to and will observe the lines the number of acct
dents highways will be reduced"
On the other hand there are residents here in the
County who enthusiastic the markings wax eo
quent the improvements traffic conditions One such
resident who makes daily trips between Rockville and Be
thesda well trips over Route 20 to Ba-
more had this TO say
THE State Roads Commission is be congratulated on
the fine job of road-marng it has done recently in Mont
gomery County. After good bit of gettng-around owe,
the reads in the County have noticed that the increased
length of nopassng double lines portions of roads where