LONDON TRAFFIC

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 88, 13 April 1935, Page 15

LONDON TRAFFIC

AUTOMATIC CONTROL

This year is likely to see record developments in automatic traffic control in London.

It is probable that the way will be shown by St. Marylebone's £40,000 scheme of inter-linked traffic lights. The installation of this system is already proceeding;

London has at the moment nearly 400 crossings with traffic light signals, and schemes now in progress will bring the total to close on 500, states the "Daily Telegraph." In addition to these several hundred more traffic points will be equipped with light signals during the course of the year.

Before going on to the larger developments, ihowever, the Ministry of Transport experts are waiting to see the St. Marylebone scheme, said to be the first of its' kind in the world in operation.

The main feature of the system, which consists of a combination of the vehicle-actuated and fixed-time types of signals, is the institution of two "master controllers," which will automatically gauge the volume of traffic and adjust the lights accordingly Work on the installation of the equipment is being hurried, on.

Kifty-five road junctions in the borough: covering some of the busiest traffic centres in the West End, are being equipped with.lights.

Although many of the lights in frequently intersected thoroughfares like Mortimer Street are situated at relatively short distances from each other, it is hoped to avoid the needless stoppage of vehicles by careful adjustments and experiments with the master controllers. ,

Another important traffic control scheme in St. Pancras is also in pro: gress. This involves junctions in Euston Road and Gower Street.