TRAFFIC CONTROL COMPARED

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21807, 12 June 1936, Page 12

TRAFFIC CONTROL COMPARED

SOUTH AMERICAN METHODS DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM Great efficiency in traffic control, and a contrast in some particulars with New Zealand methods, were noticed by Mr A. S. Nicholls in South American cities during a 15 weeks’ tour from which he returned to Christchurch yesterday. “If I were asked what appealed to me most in my travels in South America I should say one of the strongest impressions would be the traffic and its control,” said Mr Nicholls. “In the -three largest cities which I visited, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, and Santiago de Chile, I have often stood, watched, and marvelled. “The speed of the vehicles would be considered excessive in New Zealand. Motors race alohg at 40 miles an hour, and trams are very little behind in their pace. It is interesting to see how quickly the street cars accelerate. “In spite of the quantity of the traffic and the pace, there are very few accidents. The traffic police are a joy* to watch. In Buenos Aires, where in places the traffic comes from half a dozen directions, the police are mounted on a covered platform. One would wonder how they would sort the traffic out. but everything goes as merrily as the proverbial wedding bell and much more easily. There is no frantic waving of arms. A policeman simply turns and holds up his baton, and that is a certain block to everything in front or behind him. “The consideration extended to pedestrians is most marked. Our inspectors are only able to see motor-cars, but those in South America are courteous even to the most modest of those on foot. The control in Santiago is all the more wonderful, as it was inaugurated only three years ago. “Some of the cities have more bicycle traffic than others. It would probably interest our authorities to learn that the bicycles are not registered or numbered, and yet they are controlled quite easily. In Santiago I saw one cyclist who endeavoured to ride beyond the line where traffic must stop when the policeman signals a halt. Judging by his face he had a very uncom-fortable-30 seconds with the traffic controller.”