Radar May Help Reduce Accidents

Chronicle (Levin), 8 June 1948, Page 4

Radar May Help Reduce Accidents

The Transport Department is hoping to reduce traffic accidents by the use of a machine similar in principle to a radar set. At pres,ent being eompleted by techniciaiis !-at th^ ;Dqminipnr Physical Labor^- ; torjr; • :it ■• ;®j|l fie; -use'd 'for " tfestirig ' th'e ,speed; 6|':road, traiac. .'. If wiri ' be empldyed m"TmbWiTig light on' the causes of accidents, nowever, and not for catching sp'eedsters. An impulse sent out from the I machine to a travelling vehicle is ireflected back to the tester, the 'resultant changes in the impulse's ; frequency being convertible into the vehicle's speed. The department has maps showing the accidents which occur in all the area it controls. So soon as many accidents are noted to be occurring in a certain area it is surveyed in an effort to fin'd out why it is dangerous. The machine now being built is expected to show .whether motorists — even though within the specified limit — approach these areas at too great a *spee'd, A decision can then be made as to whether the speea should be ;lowered, and, in the case of an interestion, whether it should be re,designe'd to provide better vi'sibility, whether it should be better lit |or whether special lights should be jinstalled. The posting of a traffic inspector at such a place might also ;be warranted in that his presence would tend to make motorists travel more slowly, tnus rorming in them the habit of taking greater ■ care in fche danger area. I Similar machines are used exfensivefy in the United States " of jAmerica. The Weliington-made ;device is largely the product of New Zealand technique and adaption, however, and' is still in the experimental stage. At presenf, it ; is said to be cumbersoms, -but it is hoped that it will not be long before it can be .mcorporatea m a neat portable set.