REGULATING TRAFFIC

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1930, Page 2

REGULATING TRAFFIC

GOOD ROADS BUT SMALL TAX. AMERICAN METHODS. “As we got nearer the great cities the roads were muon wider, so much so that in some cases three, four or more cars could travel in safety skU by side,” remarked Mr F. Bennett, of Khandallah, in relating his observations of traffic control during a recent visit to the United States, FOUR-WAY LIGHT SIGNAL.

From Los Angeles to Vancouver, said Air Bennett, lie had had every opportunity of observation from cars and from residence of the latest traffic control by means of warnings, signals and lights. They visited all the largest cities, but resided in San Francisco for nearly four months, and in Los Angeles for about one month. These two cities carry large populations, the former 700,000 and the latter 1,300,000. The main street of San Francisco is Market Street, which is miles long, and has four tramlines abreast, with motor trafficoil both side's of the street. Safety zones or islands are built at the intersections of the busy streets. Probably the bnuest zone of traffic in the city is at the intersection of Market, Montgomery and Post Streets, the two latter crossing, Market Street at different angles. “At this junction'of streets we were present when the Mayor, Air .Tames Rolfe, turned on the latest device for traffic control installed in the city. This was a four-way light signal of red and green. In addition to the lights, control officials are in charge. The streets have Gin. wide lines of white or yellow paint, dotted or continuous, indicating the lines of traffic for motor vehicles and people as safety guides. For the motor traffic, red and green only, are placed one above the other on.a convenient pole or building. These lights are about Bft. above the ground, so that they can be seen easily by g motorist under his hood, The lights are automatically worked, and a oaft-sounding bell gives the warning for the change of light,

PROTECTION OF PEDESTRIANS. “Pedestrians are catered for. A separate pillar six feet high, with an olblong case on end containing red and green lights, has the words ’Stop’ (red) and ‘Go’ (in green), A bell again indicates the change of lights, which are placed near the corner of the pavement. Light boxes may control two or four ways of traffic. “Other signals are to he seen in the less busy parts of the city; for instance, the word ‘Stop’ is painted on the street near a cross-line. An important signal consisting of a cubical box which controls traffic from different ways by means of the word ‘Stop’, is a fixture without lights standing about six feet high. A motorist must stop, whether the traffic way is clear or not, before moving over a crossing.” Special warnings were put up at dangerous points. Officers on motorcycles patrolled all parts of the city. Lights alone directed the traffic of some streets.

Railway crossings in a city were a source of great danger unless properly guarded; the safeguards taken in these large cities worked well and comprised; (a) A long arm (wood or metal) which stretches the whole width of the crossing, worked by .simple control; (b) warning lights, red and green; (c) a control officer with a red and a green flag; (cl) in some instances a long loud whistle or the clanging of a big bell on the engines; (e) and slow ppecd of the trains. CONCRETE ROADS. Air Bennett said that the ruling body in San Francisco had tried making streets with red bricks on edge, bitumen, and concrete; but it was now agreed that concrete was the best material for such a purpose. Bricked streets were being gradually taken up and replaced by concrete. The main highway between Mexico City and Vancouver was laid in concrete. The average width was about that of, the Hutt road, but nearer the cities the pavements were much wider, so much so that in some cases three, four, or more cars could travel in safety side by side. Improvements and regrading were continually going on. In places such as winding roads where more or less sharp turns occur the concrete was extended like a

Inline to give more room to turn safely. In other sections roads were widened hv extending their sides by an extra eighteen inches. These fine roads had helped to enrich California and the other States by attracting crowds from the rest of the Continent. All were maintained bv a fund derived from a tax of three halfpence per gallon on petrol. This tax brought in three million dollars in California alone; but so great a sum from so low a tax was possible only 'because of the number of cars and the enormous consumption of petrol.