CITY TRAFFIC CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22733, 20 May 1937, Page 10

CITY TRAFFIC CONTROL

The proposal of the Minister of Transport that the Auckland City Council should be the sole authority for the issuing of motor-driving licendes and the control of motor traffic over the whole urban area is thoroughly sound. A scheme may be devised to meet the suggestion of the Mayor of One Tree Hill that the suburban local bodies should have some representation upon the committee of the City Council responsible for traffic control, but obviously such representation could have advisory powers only. Mr. Semple has made out a complete case for the centralisation of control in the metropolitan area, with provision for the creation of a separate authority for the North Shore boroughs. A uniform system of testing the capacity of drivers is a first essential. It has been apparent for years that the standai'ds of licensing authorities have varied. In some towns there has been evidence that local bodies have been competing for the comparatively small amount of revenue represented by licence fees. Such a situation cannot be countenanced by a department that is determined to reduce the dangers of the road. The reckless driver, having become responsible for an accident, may have his driving licence cancelled by the Court, but by that time the damage has been done. It must, be admitted that even under a unified system of control some drivers, who may have their irresponsible moments, may secure licences after a rigid test, but unquestionably some potential causes of danger will be eliminated. With the system tightened up, the next step will lie to maintain an adequate patrol on the highways where there is the greatest density of traffic and the greatest factors of danger. Patrol officers using motor-cycles could of Leu act to the common advantage by issuing warnings when they foresee the possibility of some driver hurting himself or someone else. Their continuous presence would have a salutary effect in checking the excesses of what is a email minority.