THE MOTORIST
NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL INSTALLED
The American Traffic Signal Co. turned over to the City of Cleveland on August 5th, the first set of traffic signals, which were installed at East 105th street and Euclid avenue. Hon. A. A. Benesch, Director of Public Safety, placed the signals in operation at five p. m., at which time the traffic at that point near the entrance to Wade Park is extremely heavy.
The opening of what promises to be a revolutionary method in handling traffic was witnessed by other city officials, members of the "Safety First" committee, officers of the Chamber of Commerce, Automobile Club, insurance men, newspaper representatives, railway officials, and other invited guests of the city. All were unanimous in their endorsement of the system, which consists of eight high candle power lights, four red and four green. They are installed on the right hand side of the street, the red lights on the near side and the green across the street intersection about fifteen feet above the street. Red light means "STOP" and green light means "PROCEED." If you want to turn to the left into another street, drive out into the street to the extreme right hand side and stop. This permits those following to pass on through the street. When the signals are reversed for traffic to move on the opposite street, those waiting complete their turn and proceed. The right hand turn can be made at any time. The traffic officer is located in the booth on the northwest corner of the sidewalk. The floor of the booth is about two feet above the street, and the booth has glass sides so the officer can sit in an office and still get a good view of the entire situation. It is provided with every convenience for the operation of the signals, placing the officer where he can answer all inquiries without the persons desiring the information having to go to the center of the street where they seriously interfere with moving traffic and are always in danger of being injured.
The booth is equipped with an emergency device so that the operating officer is in constant touch with the police and fire departments, all fire alarms being repeated in the booth at the same time they are given to the fire-fighting companies. If the fire is at a point where it requires any of the fire companies to pass through that intersection, the traffic officer will close the switch which flashes all the red lights and sounds the electric gongs on each corner, which is notice to all drivers to move to the curb until the fire department or emergency equipment has passed when the traffic officer will place the signals in regular operation again, at which time the traffic moves normally.
The system is said to be covered broadly by patent applications in this and foreign countries, the company claiming among other things "Safety First" in handling regular traffic by placing positive signals where they can be seen in daytime or at night, with no opportunity to misunderstand them. They make it possible for fire and other emergency equipment to safely answer any call in its effort to save human life and property. It also claims that this system covers handling traffic broadly, and that the plan will enable cities adopting same to eliminate a substantial amount of the time now lost while waiting for traffic on cross streets. Last, but not least, it enables the traffic officer to perform his exacting duties in a booth that is provided with the conveniences of an office where he is protected from the elements.
This system is, perhaps, destined to revolutionize the handling of traffic in congested city streets and should be seriously considered by traffic committees for general adoption.
All motorists are vitally interested in any device that will aid in safely guiding drivers through the congested sections of the streets and highways, and will welcome the day when a uniform system may be adopted whereby positive indications are given. The system just installed has a number of marked advantages over the police officer stationed in the center of the street. Its signals are interlocking so that it is impossible to give conflicting orders. They remain fixed from the time they are given until they are reversed. They also have a double signal, consisting of bells on each corner which are sounded during the day time and early part of the evening when the signals are changed. This eliminates the trouble that frequently occurs where the traffic officer is in the center of the street by his giving a signal that is clear to all who happen to be observing his movements at that particular moment, and then changing by a wave of the arms, which is not always observed by those waiting, or by the traffic officer giving directions to someone in the center of the street asking for certain information, which is frequently misunderstood to mean a reversal of the signals.
The traffic officer's position in the center of the street is a very trying one at the best, and we doubt if the average person who criticises could do as well if placed in that position. We recognize that it is an extremely cold place in the winter and equally as trying during the severe heat of summer, to say nothing about the storms which they frequently encounter, when it is necessary for them to be on duty without being prepared for same. The booth is provided with electric heat in winter and shelter for all seasons of the year.