MOTOR TRAFFIC.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 22 September 1930, Page 13

MOTOR TRAFFIC.

CONTROL IN AMERICA. Mr W. H. Montgomery, who has recently returned from a visit to, America, was greatly impressed during his stay by the efficient manner in • which, the heavy automobile traffic is contro'lled in American cities. ~.-•."'■"'.. "In. Los' Aagoles there ; is a motorcar to every 2\ persons,'';' Hed, "and the control ol this pnormous. nuiii ber of vehicles is little short of mar- j vellous. People drive at from 30 to 40 miles an hour .in the city streets. Traliie (motor and pedestrian) is con t oiled by automatic signals, which are rigidly observed. These signs are placed at "all intersections, and' so effective is the system that ~ even-" a pram—' baby buggy' in the'- best can be.

safely manipulated through the business centre. The motor traffic is stopped at regular intervals and pedestrians are allowed two minutes'in which to cross the roads. ' "No one dares'to cross obliquely or at the wrong moment,- .and.jay-walking is very stridtly put down. ' In these cities if people persisted in crossing the streets at any time and plaee as..they, do in Christchurch they Would, hot live for ten minutes; yet accidents are.much fewer, • "The main, roads are divided to give fou • lines of traffic—two- each way. One is used by cars doing up to 35 miles per hour, and the other by those doing .-m-'fbing above that. *'. As ts <-om|>arison in speed lim ts." Mr Montgomery stated.- that- h::.'.note,d.. one big t-, ffic. bridge : in San .Francisco- on .(vl'i b -thi ' Kin" t was 40 rViilei' pei hour. The standard of driving in the; United States was always h'gh,~he said,; and motorists seldom ■:, failed .to Jstdp '• abjo--lutely at railway crossings;- The man

I driving into a main street also stopped ; before proceeding. This system of stopping altogether, in order to observe the-roatds, could be.well copied in New Zealand. The Petrol War. . The petrol war now prevailing in the States.was also referred to. "Gas" went as '.. 10w..as six cents a : gallon (3d), but rose on one occasion. : to 20 cents before the visitor leftCalifornia. The war was due to over. -production; of petrol, A "gas city" had' grown up at the-Signal Hill wells,', •where derricks, every ten yards indi; catrd oil.' These resembled a forest. Mr Montgomery also visited the;Bichneld Refinery ,to which oil was. ' •t.artsp'irt' , rt.'by p'pes.-in.sorae cases from.. .50 miles \ away. - ThK recent' discovery of a .new, cracking process'for the refining; of the oil under .great pressure ajidrheat-: ' enaMes-about'- 30 per j cent. more, gas to' ;,b'e' r p'i;oduc6d.'from' tho?same; atobunl;., of crude oil' than* byithewJlflt .