LACK OF UNIFORM TRAFFIC LAWS CAUSES DELAY IN FIRE RESPONSE

LACK OF UNIFORM TRAFFIC LAWS CAUSES DELAY IN FIRE RESPONSE

Motorists Puzzled by Individual Traffic Laws of City—Necessary That State or National Measures Be Taken on Problem

IT is fully realized that this is a most difficult subject to approach, in that no two cities have the same conditions to contend with relative to weather, streets, large or small auto registration, seasonal increase or decrease in tourist travel, and so forth, in getting apparatus to the fire ground. As an illustration of how awkward it may be to persons traveling down the Coast, a tourist starting at Seattle, Wash., in the congested areas, he will find centrally hung traffic signals with double bell, numerous confusing white pavement markers, restricted parking signs of various types and inscriptions and, on many corners, traffic officers. The tourist goes on to Portland where he travels blithely along following a broad yellow band on the pavement, only to meet a “cop" at the end of said band who informs him that lie is going the wrong way on a one way street and the officer invites him to view the interior of the city bastile. On to San Francisco where there is only one street—where every corner rates a "copper” plus four to six signals, and where you grow cross-eyed trying to dodge the natives who know the ropes; thence to Los Angeles where (if you listen to the inhabitants) is installed the only traffic system in the world. So much for the layman and his traffic problems.