RACE TRAFFIC

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 127, 31 May 1937, Page 4

RACE TRAFFIC

SYSTEM OF CONTROL , INSPECTORS IN FAST CARS The first realty comprehensive scheme of control over traffic to and from a provincial race meeting in South Auckland was operated on Saturday by the Transport Department, on the occasion of the Waikato Racing Club’s winter meeting at Te Rapa. Similar schemes have been tried at various provincial meetings since early in February, but all were on a much smaller scale.

Eight traffic inspectors, drawn from a wide area and each provided with a fast car, were used for control on Saturday. The actual race traffic amounted to upward of 2300 cars, the latter number being parked at the racecourse, and the stall had also to deal with week-end traffic that was on the roads at the same time, states the New Zealand Herald.

The inspectors all made the journey from their respective centres. Three co-operated with the Hamilton Borough Council’s inspectors in point duty at the course, and one was stationed at the new Fairfield Bridge, which carried nearly all the traffic from east of the WaiKato River. This diversion greatly relieved traffic congestion in Hamilton. The other inspectors travelled in with the racegoers from their respective centres, which included Auckland, Te Kuiti, Rotorua, Thames and Te Aroha. These inspectors functioned as mobile patrols, halting their cars at intervals and generally supervising the traffic stream in order to prevent cutting-out, cutting-in, speeding and other infringements. When the races were over they returr.ea home in the same way. A Restraining Effect.

The knowledge that they were on duty may have had a restraining effect on some motorists, for everything proceeded in an orderly fashion, and breaches of the driving rules were neither numerous nor serious. Congestion occurred only once, when there was some delay over issuing tickets at the course entrance. After the last race all parked cars were cleared within half an hour.

Taken as a whole, the scheme of widespread control by a single authority through a well-equipped staff in fast cars was considered to be most satisfactory. The procedure used on Saturday is likely to become universal throughout the Dominion, and will be accepted as normal by motorists on similar occasions.