Traffic Control

Press, Volume C, Issue 29454, 4 March 1961, Page 3

Traffic Control

Sir.—The attacks made on Councillors Flint and Hollander only serve to show how utterly out of touch with public opinion the traffic committee is. The choked conditions of our streets and the never-ending hold-ups at all intersections call for drastic and prompt action. We. the ratepayers, are paying a great sum of money annually and are not getting the service which is our right. It will not be a popular suggestion, but I make it nevertheless: that the parking meters be removed forthwith from our main streets. The congestion in High. Cashel and Colombo streets (to name a few) is really shocking. Double-parking goes on every day and how it is that a major accident has not taken place is a mystery. Then there are light-controlled (?) intersections. What a source of frustration and danger they are to everyone! The council is letting us down badly and just hates being told the truth.— Yours, etc, March 2. 1961.

Sir, —I do not believe the traffic officers should be blamed for the chaotic conditions prevailing in this city because they only do what they are told. Matters which require urgent attention are:— (a) Too much chalking of tyres; (b) not enough patrols in the speedy areas such as Park terrace. Blenheim road. Memorial avenue and Fendalton road, to name only a few; (c) officers on point duty should be giving quick signals, not physical jerks to slow time—turning to the right by numbers, as in the army, one stop, two; get the traffic moving; (d> cyclists to travel in single file as close to the left as possible; (e) jay walkers to be prosecuted. If the traffic committee decided to get cracking people would soon learn it does not pay to trifle with the traffic laws.— Yours, etc., GET A MOVE ON,~ March 2, 1961.

Sir, —I am not aware if the Traffic Department is doing a good job or not in regard to traffic control. Had I not been pretty nimble yesterday I would have been run down at a pedestrian crossing in Worcester street to Cameron Smith’s corner. I was threequarters of the way over the crossing when a car coming west did not stop for me as he should have done and I had to jump back to avoid being knocked down. I now consider it is safer to jay walk on the streets, as you have more room to dodge cars.— Yours, etc, NIMBLE. March 2, 1961.