Traffic Control

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30051, 8 February 1963, Page 10

Traffic Control

Sound suggestions for improving the traffic administration of Christchurch

were discussed by the City Council on Wednesday. The ** feeding ” of parking meters, largely forbidden in other busy cities, was bound to be curtailed in Christchurch. The prohibition, confined at first to the central city area, may be gradually extended outwards. The number of

vehicles able to find an hour’s parking should be greatly increased, to the convenience of persons making shopping and business trips to the centre of the city. It will be all to the good if the restrictions encourage persons contemplating longer visits to leave their cars on the outskirts and use buses. The prohibition of right-hand turns at the GloucesterColombo streets intersection should help the flow of traffic; and experience here may persuade the authori-

ties to deal similarly with other lighted intersections. Though statistical comparisons between cities are not a sure guide, figures presented to the council seem to justify increasing the traffic control staff. More traffic lights, obviating personal control of intersections, are also needed. It seems clear from the report to the council that a rearrangement of officers’ duties, and perhaps the introduction of specialists in charge of statistics and prosecutions, would make more officers available for the streets. It should be a primary object erf a traffic control administration to I ve the largest possible proportion of the available staff actively engaged in supervision and control. Unquestionably, urgent attention should be given to the request for centralised accommodation for the uniformed staff, which now works from three places.