TRAFFIC DANGERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22368, 15 September 1934, Page 12

TRAFFIC DANGERS

A deputation from the Otago Motor Club which urged the City Council ,on Wednesday evening to give consideration to the" subject of traffic control at Frederick street corner suggested that the stopping-places of south-bound trams and of Maori Hill buses' should both be altered. Although an alteration may appear desirable from the motorists’ point of view, it does not folloiv that it would be reasonable from the viewpoint of the City Corporation or advantageous to the public. The suggestion that the Maori Hill buses, which now provide an important service, should embark and disembark passengers in the vicinity of Knox Church is palpably open to objection. Such a stoppingplace would not only be inconvenient, but in the light of traffic considerations might be found to be quite unsatisfactory. The present arrangement as regards both tram and bus stops may be by no means ideal, but it seems to have now stood reasonably well the test of a fair trial, and it does appear to meet the requirements of passengers. The tram and bus drivel’s exercise the care which is expected of them at a point whore their routes cross one another. It is not unreasonable to expect motorists to exercise a like care at this intersection. Those who travel by tram and bus may not altogether support the view that drivers of motor vehicles show every consideration for the rights of other users of the roads. It is rather difficult to folloiv some of the arguments adduced by representatives of the Motor Club respecting the obstruction of the motorists’ line of vision, and so forth, at Frederick street corner. The suggestion that the bus genci’ally stands with its nose almost in George street is certainly not according to fact. Since the Motor Club is really concerned for the public safety it might concentrate on a traffic aftpect which presents itself at most main street intersections, and exert itself to discourage a practice among motorists which is a matter of common observation and comment. This consists in the habit on the part of motorists of speeding up when overtaking a tramcar in order to pass it before it stops. Even while people are stepping off the footpath to meet a closely approaching tram the motorist pushes through, and in the circumstances it seems hardly possible that he can be paying due attention to all the other traffic at that intei’section. The practice is an exceedingly dangex-ous one, and is far too common. At a convergence of streets such as presents itself at Fi'ederick street corner it. is particularly objectionable.