REVISED TRAFFIC SYSTEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27568, 9 December 1950, Page 10

REVISED TRAFFIC SYSTEM

Slight Relief Given To Pedestrians

Pedestrians moved a little more freely across High and Rattray streets yesterday when the new relay box in the master control unit which operates the traffic lights in the Exchange had its first trial. The elimination of the double right-hand turn from Rattray into High street via Princes street appeared to make-little or no difference to motorists, but proved to be a slight relief to pedestrians. Once again the features of movement in the Exchange area were tedious delays, considerable confusion, some sharp sprinting, and complete disregard of the traffic-control system by many pedestrians and a few motorists.

The improved System allowed pedestrians to cross High street while traffic was moving across the Rattray street crossing, and vice versa. But it was only rarely that walkers were able to go straight through without one halt. Several people were timed as they moved from the Government Tourist Bureau to the south side of High street. A typical example was this: A woman just missed the Cross Now” signal at the Tourist Bureau. She waited for 45 seconds. Walking briskly she moved down the street, but the lights stopped her for another 45 seconds at High street. In other words, it took her almost two minutes to travel about 75 yards, though she walked as fast as she could. On the other side of Princes street, only one person managed to get right across the street past Cargill’s Monu-

waiting for the green light. If they just missed one green they had to to wait 105 seconds for the next. On two occasions between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., when the traffic was far from dense, cars waited nearly three minutes to get across. This was because of slow acceleration in front. The only delays to traffic moving along Princes street, once they had the signal to go, were occasioned by trams moving into Lower High street. The average time lag on the Princes street lights was 45 seconds. The fact that pedestrians' are not Permitted to move with parallel traffic ecause of the possibility of motorists making turns is bewildering to visitors. A Daily Times reporter who spent the greater part of the morning in the Exchange was asked some questions to which he could give only the lamest answers. The most common question asked was: “ Why should pedestrians be held up for so long at times when there is practically no traffic in sight? ” One northern visitor drew the reporter’s attention to a moment when seven groups of pedestrians stood "on their marks ” waiting for the word go, while there was not a single moving vehicle within 50 yards of the Exchange. '

It was more apparent than ever yesterday that people were doing everything within their power to avoid the Exchange. . Many people who alighted from trams from the southern suburbs crossed the tracks to the Post Office and, by dint of detours, arrived at the Bank of New Zealand corner without ever getting near a pedestrian crossing. Similarly, motorists sought refuge in back streets. Lights Ignored

Not ail those who drove through the Exchange were perturbed by the lights. In fact, three cars within 10 minutes drove through without any indication from the drivers that they were aware of traffic lights at all. The first car was driven by a woman who was too engrossed in conversation with three other women in the back seat to notice such oddities as traffic signals, but the other two, steered by a man and a woman respectively, carried only their drivers. There was not much traffic about, there was no challenge from the inspectors at the street corners, and no converging cars harassed them. Conversations with drivers and pedestrians indicate that most of the former have reserved judgment in the meantime. They find that it is no trouble to make a slight detour when they are in a hurry. On the other hand, the Daily Times reporter failed to meet one pedestrian who was wholeheartedly in favour of the system as it is at present. Opinions varied from expressions of considerable exasperation to tolerant criticism.

ment without being checked. There were several near-accidents when people assumed that they had the right-of-way, got half-way across the street, then turned back to find a stream of traffic moving across behind them. . , _ Push Button Neglected

It was noticeable, nevertheless, that only about one person in every five made use of the push-button when checked. More than one passer-by remarked that “it was really no use. Another comment was: “It strikes me this button is only for the psychological effect.” _ . . . Cars wishing to cross Princes street spent more than a minute and a-half