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Show Drivers Disregard For Signals' IlKlTilSIVS illllllial ill'illll Toll " Hy J. ANTHONY CAKKOTMKRS Traffic Knijlnoor, National Conservation Iturcnu Only u lleoino- criminal is likely to he reckless enough loclisiryml a highway patrolman's howling siren or a traffic i(-onum's whislk 1 t't an appallingly large number of I . .,.! huv-almimir motorists 1 l M-wisc law-abiding motorists'? ilbitmUl.v drive through rod :,,hts wood posted speed limits t disobey other traffic control i llvia-s whenever they think they rin pet away with it. tiout M percent of nil filial aeelilents happen at intersections, another VI percent per-cent on curves. More than half of the drivers killed in grade-rrosstnc grade-rrosstnc aeelilents last year ,V(,re disregarding warning si,rns and signals placed thereto there-to protect them. The functions of traffic control dices are identical with those of enforcement officers to regulate, regu-late, warn and guide traffic except ex-cept that they cannot make arrests. ar-rests. Control devices can be very effective in reducing accidents, provided they are properly placed, properly designed and properly obeyed. Traffic control devices which remlate traffic are the strongest pedestrians we treat each sign and signal with as much respect as though it were the law itself. Because it is! aids of authorities in their efforts ; to reduce accidents and increase the safety and convenience of drivers and pedestrians alike. The stop sign, the traffic light, the parking sign, the "no turn" sign and the speed limit sign are all regulatory devices. Violators of the directions given by these devices de-vices are punishable by fine in traffic court; they may also be punished far more terribly by injury in-jury or death. Devices that warn motorists aro designed to call attention to a special hazard or condition condi-tion where extra caution and alertness is necessary. Devices that have this warning function func-tion ineludo the flashing yellow yel-low traffic light, the "curve sign, the crossroads sign, the painted center line of no-passing zones, and pavement messages mes-sages in advance of points of hazard. Devices that guide motorists include in-clude "destination" signs for motorists traveling between cites, signs giving specific directions for vehicles in complex intersections, and lane and turn-control pavement pave-ment markings. It is important that traffic control con-trol devices conform to nationally recognized standards so that they can be understood at a glance by motorists and pedestrians. Considerable Con-siderable progress has been made in this during the past ten years. The recommended shape, color and size for the various types of signs are: Regulatory signs white vertical verti-cal rectangle with black lettering; Warning signs Diamond-shaped, Diamond-shaped, yellow with black lettering; letter-ing; Singled out for special treatment treat-ment are "stop" signs and railroad advance warning signals. Both are yellow with black lettering, but the stop sign is six-sided, and the railroad warning sign is round. Guide and information signs horizontal rectangles with black lettering. Obviously it is important to have enough signs, signals and markers, stategically placed at the needed spots. Every citizen can help by seeing that the traffic authorities are given adequate budgets to install and maintain prope.r systems of traffic control devices. Our street systems of the future will all "have separate intersections, intersec-tions, smoothly curved highways & depressed parkways which will make many of our present-day traffic controls unnecessary. Some of us may live to see that day. Certainly more of us will if, in the meantime as motorists and |