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Show CUB HEADLIGHTS DENOTE FUNERAL Important Traf?.c Problem May Be Solved by Washington Wash-ington OScial. The solution of an important traffic traf-fic problem seems t hand with granting; grant-ing; of permission by Director Eldridge to Washington morticians to use headlights head-lights on cars in funeral processions to indicate to other tratile that the cortege ha3 the right of way. Action of the traSc director followed fol-lowed a suggestion written to Mm by a Washington mortician, who emphasized empha-sized the need of making known to all motorists when a funeral procession Is a part of a t-afF.c stream. Has Right of Way. Under the regulation, a funeral cortege has the right of way under all conditions, but, as the writer pointed out: "There never has been any. means by which a funeral procession is recognized. rec-ognized. This is true especially under present conditions, when, in slow-moving traffic, a funeral procession hardly hard-ly Is distinguishable from any other line of cars. "The modern limousine casket coach Is unlike the old-style carved hearse, and the passenger car3 which make np many corteges are furnished by friends of the deceased and may be of any style or color; therefore, such n procession is not easily recognizable as one having right of way. "Several years ago we adopted the use of a sticker for the windshields of cars, the use of which was approved by the then head of the trnflic department. depart-ment. These were discarded for the reason that the majority of drivers of privately-driven cars objected to having hav-ing them attached to the windshield; the same objection applies to any type of insignia that must b attached for the occasion nnd be removed as soon as the procession is disbanded." Other Cities Follow. The mortician submitted statements state-ments to the tragic director from Pittsburgh and Minneapolis authorities. authori-ties. The practice of burning the headlights is In force at these places and with no small measure of success. In his letter to the director, he pointed out that he believed the following fol-lowing amendment to the existing regulations reg-ulations would be of inestimable value In clearing up a rather tangled situation situ-ation : "Amplify paragraph (c) of section 2, Article II, by ai'ding the word 'provided funeral processions are marie recognizable by all motor vehicles ve-hicles In said processions displaying headlights of a type approved by the director.'" |