TRAFFIC CENSUS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22820, 30 August 1937, Page 11

TRAFFIC CENSUS

TALLY FOR WINTER COMMENCED YESTERDAY CHECK OVER SEVEN DAYS Thf> periodical winter census of traffic passing over the main highways of the Dominion was commenced by officers employed by the Public Works Department yesterday. A week's tally is taken in the winter and another in the summer. A similar census was conducted in January, 1935, and again in August of the previous year. The tally will be / taken continuously over a period of seven days at the more important checking stations, the men being employed on three eighthour shifts. On the less important routes two eight-hour shifts are being worked from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Checking stations have been established at all the most important main highway junctions, and in the Auckland district alone about 50 of these stations have been set up. Wide Area Covered The Auckland district, however, covers a very wide area extending from the Waitemata County in the North to the Otorohanga County in the south, and from Raglan across to Waihi, Matamata and the Mamaku Hills. Camps have been established at the majority of the stations where the men require Bhelter, and, where 24-hour tallies are kept, some of the men will probably sleep in the tents provided until the census is complete. One checking station has been established at Otahuhu and a check on traffic using the main Auckland-Helensvillo highway is being kept at another station at Albany. Where 16-hour tallies are being taken, the work will be completed on Saturday night, but at other stations the census will not be complete until the following morning. Comprehensive Oheck The tally embraces all motor vehicles using the highways and as - far as possible a record is taken of their weights and licensing classes —information whjch can be deduced from their registration plates. At intersections where the traffic is particularly heavy at peak periods, more than one man will be engaged in taking the tally. Information gained by means of this census proves invaluable to the department in deciding where attention is most needed to existing roads. The tally gives a very correct guide as to where traffic is heaviest, and from tho data supplied a reliable guide to tho conditions on any route is obtained. Information by means of tlie traffic census also is extensively used by the Transport Department.