DUNEDIN'S TRAFFIC

Evening Star, Issue 18399, 6 October 1923, Page 2

DUNEDIN'S TRAFFIC

ACCIDENTS ON THE INCREASE,

PROBLEMS OF THE FUTURE.

The problem of dealing with the city traffic becomes greater every day as the traffic increases in volume. _ vehicular traffic, in particular, is growing tremendously, and how to deal with it effectively lias beon left in the hands of the Police Department, which lias retailed men for special point duty at the Stock Exchange during certain hours of the day. Owing to the motor vehicle, speeding up of the traffic was inevitable/ consequently new by-laws are framed from time to time to meet the case. _ But with all these precautions more accidents BS® happening every day, and it is evident that new legislation -will have to be introduced to protect pedestrians and the drivers themselves. Motorists must obey tho rule of the road and observe the bylaws or suffer the consequence. Pedestrians must also recognise that they are not tho only users of tho road, and have some consideration for drivers of vehicles. In big cities like London and New York, where the vehicular traffic is on a stupendous scale, pedestrians are not allowed to cross the streets at their own sweetwill, but aro confined to specified zones, and have to wait until the traffic control man halts the stream of traffic before at - tempting to cross. There is no need yet in Dunedin for such drastic measurer, but from the number of accidents occurring there will have to be stricter enforcement of the by-laws. In order to make drivers realise their responsibilities and liabilities, the sub-in-spector of police (Mr Eccles) is of opinion that stronger and more drastic penalties should be imposed upon offenders who disregard the by-laws and do not observe the rules of the road. Interviewed by a representative of tho ‘ Star,’ he suggested that magistrates should bo given the power to cancel a driver’s license for, say, a period of twelve mouths in cases of negligent driving, driving to the danger of the public, or being drunk while in charge of a car. “ Accidents are on the increase,” said tho sub-inspector, “ and in most cases, although the driver does not intend to ho negligent, they aro due to gross carelessness, and very often tho drivers lose their heads.” Ho explained that sometimes it is absolutely the pedestrian’s fault, and he know of one case in which a woman admitted that she stepped off the footpath right in front of a motor lorry. It was the accepted idea always to blame the motorist for the accident, but that was not always correct. Speaking in regard to the city by-laws,' the sub-inspector said that there was an anomaly in regard to the by-law dealing vviili passing standing t-ramcars. The rule of tho road was “ keep to the left, yet the by-law provided that a vehicle could pass a standing traracar on the right side. In doing this the driver had to encrokch on fhe right side of tho road. In his opinion this by-law .should be done away with, making it compulsory for vehicle! to wait until the car moves off. Drivers could help the constable on point duty if they signalled properly to him. The turning to the left signal was for tho driver to extend the right arm horizontally from the shoulder, and then bring it forward into line with the car. This was a signal that the majority of drivers did not know. Another thing he mentioned was tho indiscriminate use of the horn by motor drivers. He had seen a driver approach close up to an old lady before sounding the horn, and the old lady received such a shock that she fell down in front of the car. Drivers should sound their horns some way before an intersection, or when giving warning to pedestrians.

When asked about speed limits and parking areas, the sub-inspector said that ton to twelve miles an hour was a fair and reasonable speed in the main streets, and a higher speed could bo maintained in the back streets. As to parking areas, few motorists knew that there was a by-law prohibiting leaving unattended cars in George or Princes streets. Many cars were to be seen left parked in High street. Tin's, also, was against the regulations, as was the parking of them in front of His Majesty’s ’theatre. The allotting of parking areas was in the hands of the City Council, and very soon something would have to be done in this regard.

It has been suggested that the taxi stand at the Cnstom-hou.se was a hindrance to traffic, but there was a proposal before the City Council to close that part of High street from Brown's corner to the Telegraph Office to traffic, and to divert all wheel traffic to the other side of Cargill’s Monument. This would leave a safety zone for tram passengers, and tho taxi stand would not need to be shifted. It is also suggested that all vehicles coming from tho south he stopped at above the intersection of High and Princes streets if there is a north-bound car standing opposite Sugar’s fruit shop. This would provide a clear road for traffic coming down or going up High street. As tho shopping centre of the town is Princes and George streets, moat of the pedestrian traffic is in this quarter, and in order to minimise tho danger, tho sub-inspector expressed tho opinion that it would be a good idea if vehicle traffic confined itself more to Cumberland street, and if Cumberland street was asphalted as far as tho Bay road, south-bound traffic would not need to go into the main street at all. ’lbis applies chiefly to vans and lorries. There was need, if Dm City Council could see its way, to provide another point duly man, at tho intersection of Cumberland and Stuart streets, as this cornei- was a very busy spot. Cyclists givn a jot of trouble to tho police on point duty, Mr Kcclcs said, as they fail to stop when called ujxin, and carry no registered number. The last Municipal Conference had proposed that constables be given tho power of immediate arrest for breaches of the by-laws. Hiis lie considered a very good idea. In conclusion, the sub-inspector said that tho great majority of drivers were taking to the traffic regulations very well, and it was only a matter of time'before they became educated up to them. Ho considered that tho law should be amended to enable by-law breakers to bo more drastically dealt with by the magistrates.