Suggestions To Increase Flow Of Traffic In Cities

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28984, 27 August 1959, Page 8

Suggestions To Increase Flow Of Traffic In Cities

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, August 25. Recommendations with the objective of increasing traffic speeds within safety limits in main thoroughfares have been made by the committee appointed by the Minister • of Transport <Mr Mathison) to inquire into alterations to the laws believed necessary because of the change-over from trams to buses. The committee recommends that the views of traffic authorities be sought on the advisability of amending the Traffic Regulations as follows: (1) A pedestrian crossing on a one-way street of not less than

40ft in width be divided by means of a centre line of safety zone. <2) The pedestrian to have right of way only on his half of such a crossing.

(3) A driver be permitted to overtake another vehicle which is slowing down, or stopped, to let a pedestrian cross on the other half of the crossing, subject to due care being taken to make sure this can be done with safety. The attention of the committee was drawn to a difficulty which sometimes occurs at certain crossings in Cathedral square, Christchurch, where traffic is required to move in one direction only,” said the report. “At busy periods of the day, the flow of pedestrians over the crossing, although apparently deemed insufficient to justify control by traffic light signals, or an officer, is yet frequent enough to delay a bus (or another vehicle) for an, indefinite period. “This is due to the ‘fact that while one vehicle has stopped to let a pedestrian cross, other vehicles are not permitted to proceed. On a wide street the crossing is so long that there can always be a pedestrian somewhere on the crossing holding up the progress of all approaching vehicles although the safety of the pedestrian is not in question“The committee recognises that when the volume of pedestrian and vehicular traffic reaches a certain level, some form of traffic control becomes necessary. However, it is considered that the difficulty illustrated at Christchurch. while it may not be of common occurrence at present, could best be relieved by dividing the crossing in a wide oneway street so that there are two halves, and the right of way which a pedestrian enjoys is limited to the half of the crossing which he is on at the time, just as on a crossing over a normal two-way traffic street.” Signal Bells and Smoking Other recommendations made by the committee were: “(1) That passenger transport undertakings be urged to investigate an improved system of passenger signals. ‘The signal bells installed in some cases are nerveracking to drivers,’ said the report. “(2) That smoking by passengers in city and suyburban bus services be prohibited in the interest of passenger comfort, ventilation, and vehicle maintenance. “(3) That a passenger service vehicle be impounded after an accident causing death or serious injury or damage which may be thought due to a fault or defect in the vehicle. “(4) That the Passenger Vehicle Construction Regulations be amended to prohibit passengers from standing nearer than 12 inches behind the rearmost part of the driver’s seat. The committee stated it had heard arguments regarding the further reduction of the number of standing passengers, but did not find a further reduction practicable. However, it was important that the driver’s vision should not be impeded in any way, and the practice in some centres of marking a line across the floor beyond which passengers were not allowed to stand was commended as a control of overloading. “•5) While realising that delays were caused by the driver having to collect fares, the committee did not recommend the carrying of conductors on central city sections. However, passenger transport undertakings should explore methods of expediting fare collection. “(6) The committee recommends intensive action against thqse who park on bus stops and suggests traffic authorities should consider the effectiveness of removing offending vehicles. It also suggests that bus inspectors should be empowered to deal with vehicles parked on bus stops or otherwise interfering with the operation of buses.”