TRAFFIC REGULATION

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 181, 2 May 1925, Page 22

TRAFFIC REGULATION

LOS ANGELES RULES. California is an up-to-date country in motor matters and has the largest percentage of cars to population of any country in the world. Among its progressive cities Los Angeles is one of the most progressive, ami it is interesting to note how motor traffic there is regulated. The other day we had a note on how 20,000 cars were parked at a football match out of Los Angeles. This will give some idea of the density of the traffic that has to be regulated, and it is not suggested that Wellington as yet needs quite such elaborate regulation. The following is from a Los Angeles city leaflet forwarded by a Wellington resident. As the rule of the road in America is the opposite of ours, several of the instructions below would, of course, have to be reversed in a British community. STATE REGULATIONS. Accidents.—Drivers involved must stop, render aid, and give name and address. If person is injured report must be made to police. Brakes must be in good condition. Must be set and engine stopped when vehicle is left unattended. Curves.—On obstructed curves horn must be sounded. Overtaking is prohibited. Fire and police vehicles have right of way ; others must draw to the curb and stop. Following closer than 15 feet on open road prohibited. Truck with trailer must keep 100 feet behind another truck and trailer. Lights must be shown from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. Two head ancP one tail light required. Red light visible from front prohibited. Approved dimming device required. Tail light required on parked vehicles unless street lias sufficient light to reveal objects 200 feet distant. Luggage must not extend beyond hub cap line an left, nor more than 6 inches beyond hub cap line on right. Mirrors required where driver’s vision to rear is obstructed. Mufflers must be used in business and residence districts. Non-residents must register within ten days after arriving in 'State. Number plates must be kept cleaned I and unobstructed. 1 Operator’s licenses must be carried I by all drivers. | Overtaking prohibited within 300 feet I of approaching vehicle unless overtaking vehicle can be kept on right half of roadway. Two feet clearance required and cutting in prohibited. Overtaking prohibited at intersections unless at direction of officer. Overtaken vehicles upon signal shall draw to right and not increase speed. Overtaking street cars to the left prohibited. At all times drive as close to the right of the roadway as possible. Right of Way.—Vehicles on streets have right of way over those entering from private driveways. At intersections vehicles entering first at legal speed have right of way. When two enter at the same time vehicle from right has right of vzfiy. Signals.—Starting, turning, and stopping prohibited if dangerous. If ethers will be affected by movement signals as follows must be given.:—Left .turn: Extend arm horizontally beyond left side of vehicle. Right turn: Extend arm upward beyond left side of vehicle. Stop: Extend arm downward beyond left side of vehicle. Ri"ht and left signals must be given continuously during last 50 feet before turning. Speed.—Safe and prudent speed required at /I times. 15 miles per hour maximum at obstructed crossings, on obstructed curves, when passing children leaving or entering schools, and in business districts. 20 miles per hour maximum in residence districts. 35 miles per hour maximum elsewhere.

Spot lights must not be- adjustable to throw a beam more than 4*2 inches above the roadway at a distance of 100 feet. Turning.—Vehicles may be turned around only at intersections except in I residence districts when no vehicle is I approaching within 200 feet. Tow lines must not exceed 15 feet in | length, and must have attached a red cloth at least one foot square. I CITY REGULATION’S FOR DRIVING. Turning.—At intersections other than those in the central traffic district right turns may be made with or against signals, but at all places must be mude from the line of traffic nearest the curb. Left turns may be made only from the | line of traffic nearest the centre of the roadway. Cutting corners is prohibited. Double left turns are prohibited in the central traffic district, and in business districts between the hours of 7 a-.m and 0 p.m. One Way Alievs.—ln any alley in or ■ terminating in the central traffic district vehicles shall not be driven in a southerly or in an easterly direction. /Sidewalk Stops.—Vehicles must be stopped immediately before crossing the sidewalk when .leaving any alley or driveway. Limited Vehicles.—The following vehicles must not be operated in the central traffic district between the hours of 7 a.m. and C p.m.: Freight vehicles exceeding eight and one-half feet in width; freight vehicles with more than *2O feet of overhanging load; vehicles carrying building material which has not been loaded or is not to be unloaded in the district; freight vehicles with trailers; vehicles conveying crude oil; vehicles conveying*, refuse, rubbish or garbage. Animal drawn vehicles must not enter the central traffic district between the hours of 4.30 p.m. and 6 p.*m. Loose Loads.—Vehicle loads must not be scattered on roadways Boulevard Right of Way.—Vehicles on the following streets have the right of way. All vehicles before entering such streets shatl be brought to a full stop, except when traffic has been released by officer or signal. (List of streets omitted.) Fire Apparatus.—Vehicles must not follow fire apparatus closer than one block nor park in the block where fire apparatus has stopped in answering an alarm. ' Funeral Processions have the right of way over other traffic. Motorcycles and Bicycles.—Persons shall not be carried on the bar or tank of any motorcycle or bicycle. Motor- 1 cycles, bicycles and toy vehicles shall I not be attached to moving vehicles or street cars. Emergency Vehicles of the Police and Fire Departments, and of public utilities, while actually engaged in emergency business, are not subject to local traffic regulations. STOPPING, STANDING, PARKING. Standing Prohibited.—Vehicles shall not stand by curbs painted red. Loading Zones.—Vehicles must not be stopped longer than is necessary 'to load and unload at curbs painted yellow. Three minutes maximum allowed for passengers and twenty minutes for merchandise. Parking Prohibited. —Vehicles shall not be stopped longer than is necessary to load and unload at any place in the central traffic district between the hoprs of 4.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Same limit as for loading zones. Parking Limited.—Vehicles must hot be parked for longer than 45 minutes in the central traffic district, nor for longer than one hour in a business dis-’ trict, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., nor at any place in the city ’ for longer than 30 minutes between the hours of 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Parking Position.—No vehicle shall be parked closer than 2 feet to any other vehicle, nor other than parallel with and within one foot of the curb except where angle parking is required by the police.

Merchandising Vehicles. — Vehicles shall not be displayed for sale by parking them upon any street. Vehicles from which merchandise is being sold shall not be parked in’ the central traffic district nor in any business district. STREET CARS. Right of Way.—Vehicles must be removed from tracks as soon as possible after signal by motorman. Blocking Street.—Trains of cars shall not block streets for more than five minutes. Speed.—Same as for motor vehicles under State law. Overtaking Street Cars.—Vehicles must not be driven past moving street cars within 100 feet of an intersection being approached. Vehicles shall be stopped to the rear of the nearest door of a street car loading or unloading passengers. Vehicles after so stopping may proceed with caution if there is a marked safety zone in the roadway. Vehicles must remain standing while the car is loading, however, where there is no safety zone. Boarding Cars.—Persons shall not board nor alight from moving street cars or vehicles. Riding.—Persons shall not ride upon the fenders or running board of any street car or vehicle. Maximum Penalties.—First offence, 50 dollars and five days; second offence, 100 dollars and ten days; third offence, 500 dollars and six months.