Evening star., 1953-10-18
Small Outlay Could Help End Curse Of smog on Jersey Turnpike


underscores the need for full
safety precautions. The Turn
pike Authority appears to have
kept this in mind from the be-
ginning.
It started with construction.
The pike is a divided, con-
trolled-access expressway. 1t has
two northbound lanes and two
southbound lanes all the way
from the southern gate to Wood
bridge. Closer to New York
between Woodbridge and the
northern gate-it has three lanes
on each side.
There are II interchangeS.
Traffic cannot enter or leave the
turnpike at any other point.
And no vehicles are allowed to
cross the highway. In the
vicinity of interchanges, the
road widens to an additional lane
on each side. This enables
traffic to move on or of with
out disturbing the flow of
through-bound vehicles.
Big, eaSy-to-read signs con-
Stantly remind drivers of the
speed limit and of prohibition
against parking except for
emergency repairs. In emer-
gency, vehicles must pull far off
the highway onto a built-up
shoulder. Everyone is directed
to drive in the right-hand lane
except while passing cars ahead.
No Sharp Curves.
There are neither sharp curves
nor steep grades on the turn
pike. There are no traffic
signals but plenty Of State
troopers on patrol. The Au-
thority recently increased the
number to II men-assuring a
minimum of IA on duty at all
times, or one policeman for each
eight miles of the road.
The troopers cruise in both
conspicuous blue and white
Fords and in unmarked black
Chrysler sedans. The sedans
are "souped up" so they can
travel 100 miles an hour if
necessary. All cars are equip
ped with radio. So are service
trucks sent out by a gasoline
company to rescue stalled cars.
The service trucks are pressed
into use as needed to assist po-
lice with emergency traffic condi-
tions.
One reason for a better traffic !
safety record this year is stricter
enforcement of speed regulations. |
Thousands of fines have been
imposed in 1858, as compared
with hundreds last year.
Other improvement followed |
the prohibition against parking. |
showed that the glow
ing tail light of vehicles parked |
at night lured some drivers off
the turnpike, and into collision
with the halted vehicles.
Neon Lights for Safety.
One of the latest safety meas
ures is the installation of huge
neon signs at key points irnme-
diately above the traffic lanes.
to overpasses, their
glow could hardly be missed dur
ing a Smog.
They are lighted to warn
motorists that either fog. ice,
snow or accidents lie ahead on
the turnpike. They direct a re-
duction in speed which is sup
plemented by the personal COM
mand of troopers stationed on
the roadway itself.
Under adverse weather condi-
tionS, speed limits are reduced.
For a short period almost every
day this week, some portion of |
the turnpike has been closed be-
cause of smog or fog. Early yes
terday, for the first time in his
tory, it was necessary to close |
all 118 miles of the thorough
fare for an hour and a half.
Turnpike spokesmen think
they have adopted about every
precaution they can. But they
concede there is one factor they
cannot completely control. It is
the human element.
To their aStonishment, they |
always receive a few complaints
from drivers who resent having
to cut their speeds temporarily
to anything below the normal
maximum. Even in a smog.