DANGER SIGNALS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 21 May 1927, Page 15

DANGER SIGNALS.

Twenty-two States have already erected the uniform highway marker** a United States shield, 13-i by 15 inches, carrying the name of the State in which the marker stands and the number of the highway in black on white 1 . Twenty other States will have completed the erection of the signs by June. In addition to the route markers are several danger, caution, and miscellaneous information signs. Two kinds of caution signs are approved for use according to conditions. In the instance of a dangerous or (slippery road, a bad turn or dangerous bridge, the warning sign will be a lozenge-shaped sign 24in. square. Where caution is necessary, not due to road conditions, the sign is a square of the same size carrying a legend .such os “School” or “Hospital.” An octagonal “Stop” will guard the motorist in cases where extreme caution is necsesary, while .railroad crossings will be plainly marked with a circular marker 24in. in diameter, in which “ER” appear in large letters. Yellow isi used in the “RR” markers, the only deviation from black and white. In the case of a single track a single ba.r cross is the marker, while notice of two or more tracks will be given by double bars. Signs are posted only when absolutely necessary. The “Stop” sign is used only where failure to stop would result in actual injury. Key numbers to the plan is the .simple system adopted for tihe guidance of the traveller. The decimal system is used to mark the main transcontinental west .and east systems, of which there are nine. They are numbered from 10 to 90. The' only departure from the decimal system is Route 86(5, from Chicago to How Angeles, which is so marked .because it runs from the north-east to the south-west, and so partakes of both west to east and north to ksouth characteristics.

Tlie fourteen north and south systems are numbered, with three exceptions, with a digit at the end of the number, as: -1, 11, 21, 31, etc., up to and including 10f . Short routes connecting main trunks have been designated by such numbers a® 2,4, 6, etc. Connecting and cross-over roads that give access to big cities or to main trunks are keyed by using a number in front of the trunk number. Fb-r example, the roa-d from Grant’s Pass, Oregon, to Orescent City, California, connecting the main lines 99 and 101, -is marked 199.

No special funds are to become available a.s the result of the designation of any road a.s a, part of the system. The purpose has been to select a main system of highways fo-r tlie nation, the unimproved sections of which will -be given, priority in improvement, and to eliminate' confusion as to route designation, marking and safety signs. Practically all of the system is on the system of Federal aid highways and is eligible to receive Federal aid. Tlie greatest care and thought has gone into the planning and mapping of the main routes, but the minor routes share in the painstaking thoroughness with which the entire system has been evolved.