TRAFFIC TURNING LEFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22198, 27 August 1935, Page 10

TRAFFIC TURNING LEFT

CONTROL BY POINTSMAN CUSTOMS STREET INTERSECTION Control of: traffic turning left at the four corners of tlio intersection of Queen Stre.>i and Customs Street was introduced yesterday. Previously cars were allowed to turn to the left without a signal from the pointsman. When the new scheme is operating at maximum efficiency it should lesson the danger of pedestrians crossing the street. " Stop " signs have been painted on the roadway in each traffic lane on all the corners, and all traffic in future will move only when signalled by the pointsman. To instruct motorists to conform with the new order of things, traffic officers were stationed on the footpath. Very littlo difficulty was experienced, although a number of drivers failed to seo the " stop sign and needed to have their attention drawn to it by the traffic officers.. Observation of the new scheme in operation showed the necessity for the co-operation of pedestrians if the plan is to be wholly successful. Instead of crossing the toad at right-angles when the flow oi vehicular traffic was stopped, pedestrians scurried in all directions. They darted between moving) cars, dashed in front of tramcars and in some cases dodged danger by inches. In one instance a woman made three hesitating attempts to cross Customs Street, finally running at an angle with her back half-turnecl to an oncoming tramcar before reaching the other side of the road. If pedestrians crossed the street in accordance with the white linos which are painted on the roadway for their guidance, many of the difficulties of controlling the traffic at this busy intersection, would disappear.,