Traffic Control

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30954, 10 January 1966, Page 10

Traffic Control

Sir.—While the ideal would be one police force watching all offences, including those on the roads, different standards of selection would preclude present traffic officers being absorbed by the Police Department. As a compromise nothing less than a nationwide traffic force should be accepted. In Christchurch we have chaos, with both the City Council traffic department and its officers making judicial decisions on offences, and there is little confidence among drivers that justice will be done. Antigua and Tuam streets, at their junction, are continually obstructed by double-parked vehicles, and similar dispensation is given to other selected users of busy city and suburban streets. At unprotected intersections with Moorhouse avenue, the right-hand rule is rarely observed, yet tyre-chalking duties prevent the apprehension of these blatant offenders while the traffic department stubbornly

clings to the inconsistent and dangerous road markings on this speedway.—Yours, etc., VARIAN J. WILSON December 30, 1965.

[The traffic superintendent for the Christchurch City Council (Mr J. F. Thomas) replies: “The merits and demerits of a national enforcement body have been reported in the newspapers recently, by those in authority and I do not intend to comment further upon the first portion of your correspondent’s letter. With regard to the allegations, which are not very specific, in the latter part of the letter, I would be pleased to discuss these should your correspondent care to get in touch with me personally.”!