INCREASE OF TRAFFIC

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22104, 28 May 1937, Page 17

INCREASE OF TRAFFIC

Difficulties of City

Driving

NEED FOR CIRCUMSPECTION AND ABILITY Very little experience either as a motorist or as an observer is necessary to realise the rapid growth of the motor traffic of Christchurch, and the observer at the same time realises the remarkably large number of accidents avoided only by the emergency application of brakes with the accompanying screeching and skidding. As in probably any other centre these emergency actions are almost entirely attributable to the carelessness of some driver in failing to give signals of his intentions or in giving very poor signals. Few motorists cannot call to mind their own experiences of scraped mudguards and locked bumper bars caused by other drivers pulling out from behind other vehicles just as they themselves are about to be passed. The material damage done is seldom great but nerves are frayed and any timidity there might be is increased. And this happens, nine times out of 10, because the guilty party has failed to indicate that he intends to draw out either from the stream of traffic or from the kerb. Often, too, there is, in the giving of such signals, an exhibition of timidity and indecision which leaves doubt in the minds of other drivers about what the motorist's intention is. It is true that the responsibility for much of the scraping and scratching of paintwork in traffic can be laid at the door of the manufacturer who designs his modern car with a bonnet so high that the lefthand guard is invisible from the driving position. Thus, many drivers, particularly those with little experience in gauging distances, are quite in the dark about the amount of space they are leaving between their own guards and those of the car they are overtaking. Often they swing so wide that they incommode approaching traffic and take up much more room than they either need or are entitled to. That is undoubtedly the reason for the increasing popularity of those little red or yellow-topped wire indicators attached to lefthand guards. The Human Element Placing as much blame as possible on the vehicle, it is still, in the last analysis, the man at the wheel who is responsible for minor traffic mishaps, and a plea is made for greater consideration for other road-users by avoiding sudden departures from the straight line, more care in giving hand signals, and greater concentration on driving generally. Because city traffic is becoming increasingly difficult to negotiate it would Ibe made much more pleasant and fewer emergencies would arise if those who offend by inconsiderate driving, cutting in, and giving perfunctory hand signals would curb their impatience and give more attention to ordinary courtesies. One of the greatest attributes of a good driver—and there are really remarkably few good drivers —is reliable judgment. *There is the indecisive driver who apparently has so little faith in his own judgment and ability that when a position arises where he has to make up his mind quickly whether to stop or to keep on going, he so tentatively creeps forward foot by foot, gripping the wheel and staring with fixed intensity at the other traffic, that the drivers of approaching cars have not the remotest idea of his intentions and the traffic about him is demoralised. If he wars an honest driver he would probably admit to himself later that he, too, had had no idea of his intentions, and that he had been completely demoralised. Judgment and general skill vary as much as the size of shoes, and that is why some drivers travel through the densest traffic with complete confidence and without the slightest false move. Of this type taxi-drivers are an excellent example. The point is that drivers should know and should realise their §wn limitations; they should always drive within the limits of their own skill, and if they know they are lacking in confidence they should keep away from the busiest streets until they are qualified to take their places with those who see an opening, take it, ani. move on to the next. The golden rules are to concentrate on the job in hand, to drive with caution and consideration for others, to remain cool and confident in emergencies, and, knowing the car is being driven with proper regard for others, to dismiss them utterly from the mind and refuse to be bluffed by those bullies of the streets who undoubtedly exist. NEW PARKING SIGNS CITY AREA TO BE MARKED Fifty of the new parking signs will be ordered by the traffic committee of the Christchurch City Council to-day, and as soon as they are delivered a start will be made with the marking of the internal city area. The signs all have black letters on a lemon-yellow background, and the top two-thirds of every parking sign carries the symbol letter "P." Underneath are either figures denoting the number of minutes during which parking is permitted, or the letters "N.P. indicating that parking is prohibited in that particular area. The first signs will be placed in streets about the city area where there are many offences during business hours, and as the scheme is extended the total number of plates required, about 150, will be placed.