TRAFFIC TOWERS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 90, 13 October 1923, Page 14

TRAFFIC TOWERS

LATEST METHODS OF CONTROL.

New York, full of pride in its newtraffic control towers, is to attempt to use them for catching motor criminals. These tall and handsome towers, built of bronze, with their glass-sided cabins, and their coloured lights for signalling to pedestrians and drivers, have been a great success in controlling the traffic of Fifth avenue, and further towers are to be erected in other parts of New York (writes Paul Bewsher in the "Paily Mail"). When a number is in position the police intend to use them for the pursuit of criminals in the following way:—A robbery or attack is carried out in the control tower area by criminals using a motor-car. Immediately a message is sent to the towers, and red lights are shown on all four sides. In a moment the traffic' controlled by the towers is brought to a standstill. Sirens on the towers are also sounded to give a widespread warning that the hunt is up. .The.motor bandits.are faced with a. very unpleasant situation. They., can proceed onwards and be dreadfully conspicuous through their motor-car being the one moving vehicle in the streets full of stationary cars—or they can stop. In either case their chances of being captured are very high. The .very object of using a motor-car in a crime is to escape'easily.

There are obviously many difficulties in the way of the successful operation of the scheme, but it will be a very interesting experiment to follow.

The originator of the watch, towers is a fascinating personality. He is Dr. John A. Harriss, who, for six years has controlled the traffic of New York in the honorary capacity of Deputy Police Commissioner. From sheer enthusiasm Dr. Harriss, who is a well-to-do-man, has devoted himself to traffic problems, and has undertaken the control of the traffic of a. great city without any pecuniary benefit. He himself is maintaining the traffic towers on Fifth avenue for two years from his own pocket. Softvoiced and bearded, Dr. Harriss is a man with a. mission. He dreams of a day when all over the world traffic will proceed on' the right side of the road—when traffic control equipment and traffic.rules and regulations shall be standardised.