CONGESTED TRAFFIC

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 47, 23 August 1930, Page 8

CONGESTED TRAFFIC

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —A short while ago I took it upon myself to write to you regarding the nonobservance of the traffic control lights at the Bank of New Zealand corner by the city tramears, and at that time pointed out that the practice of the trams beating the lights was bound to be followed by motorists. Judging by the tenor of the discussion at last night's meeting of the City Council this is precisely what has happened. Since my complaint was made I notice that the trams have for the most part been observing the lights with meticulous care. The position in regard to motor-cars unfortunately calls for improvement, and one welcomes the Mayor's statement that there is to be an inspector at tho corner. Personally Sir, I would go far beyond any of tho suggestions that seem to have been made in regard to the control of traffic in this congested area. A rule of motor traffic in Wellington is that drivers must not pass, nor even draw level, with standing tramears, but the narrow thoroughfare from Featherston street up Willis street, and through by Manners street to Cuba street, will never be safe until motor traffic is forbidden to pass tramears at all. Over and over again one sees serious risk run at the Bank of New Zealand corner by drivers dashing round past moving trams to get into Willis street ahead of them. The driver's vision ahead is blocked by the tram —and over and over agai* one sees more risk run in Willis street itself by drivers dashing along to beat the tram to Mercer street. At some hours during the day it is almost impossible to got across Willis street at any point. •Motorists complain of jay walking, but as long as they are allowed to dash along these narrow thoroughfares the way they do jay walking is unavoidable. Having started to cross the street with an apparently clear opportunity the unfortunate pedestrian is held up by speeding traffic on tho opposite lane, and is then so caught between a fire of two lines of traffic that he is driven down the centre of the roadway until a chance presents itself of completing the journey across. ' It is no use blaming pedestrians for a prac- ! tice which is none of their choosing, but is thus forced upon them. What are all those vehicles doing in Willis street, anyway, and what is all the violent hurry about? There cannot be the slightest occasion for the great bulk of it, and, still more, there must be a route .more generally convenient than Willis street for most of these vehicles that constantly pass through it. Nearly all of them turn into Manners street, and do not stop there, and of the rest quite a large proportion has already slipped into Mercer street.—l am, etc., PEDESTRIAN. 22nd August.