THE REGULATION OF STREET TRAFFIC.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1944, 30 December 1913, Page 6

THE REGULATION OF STREET TRAFFIC.

Sir, —In your leader of this morning's issue, -under tho heading "Reckless .Motorists," there is a slishing attack made on motorists. May I, as a motorist, bo permitted to say a few words in extenuation- of our cause? To begin with, I most certainly agreo with you, in the paragraph '''but it cannot seriously bo contended that there is any real regulation of traffic in Wellington." (Marie —Not "motor" traflic.) Now, Sir, this is the crux of tho whole matter, so why specially pick out tho motorists for blame? In my humbio opinion, pedestrians and tramears aro equally as much, if not more, to be blamed; not t<? mention tho sleepy drivers of carts and drays, who positivcly adoro driving on tho wrong side <jf the road. ■

I will take the pedestrians first. It is 0110 of the most usual sights to see parts of tho most congested thoroughfares of Wellington turned '■•yte clubhouses by pedestrians, who stand about in little knots in the centre of tho roads, discussing topics of tiro day. Tho junction of Willis Street and Lambton Quay and its immediate neighbourhood is one of tho most frequented mcetingplaces for stick Confabulations, and it is only after repeated and persistent hootings, aro these- idlers or fools reluctantly induced to forsake the road to allow tho motorist to get by, hurling insulting epithets at the motorist as lie gees by, in many eases.- Is this, Sir, quite as it should be?

Again, pedestrians wander aimlessly about the roads and streets, when there is amplo room on tho footpaths, as well as cross tlio roads in the most careless fashion, without a cursory glr.iicc in the direction of the traffic to avoid it, constituting a menace and a danger both to themselves and motel'' ists. I venture to say that in London, where the traffic is ,tho best controlled in the world, such people would have n much smaller chance of safety than in Wellington, where motorists are such "reckless terrors." - Surely something can. and ought to bo, done in this direction towards traffic regulation.

With regard to tramears: How often does not one see tramears dash down crowded thoroughfares at, or abovo, twenty miles per hour, clanging their bells, with pedestrians scattering helterskelter before them, and virtually rushing under tho very bonnets of motorears. Is there no speed-limit or regulations for tram-cars? As their drivers appear to think, judging from the mad hurry which they appear to be in, in crowded streets? Pedestrians get out of the way of tramears, as they know thcro is not much redress to bo got from them. But, not so, in tho case of motorists, for if one. should be unlucky enough to run down a pedestrian ho is suro to be,in tho wrong, no matter thw circumstances attending the case. These very pedestrians hurrying ■ out of tlm path of tramears nro a great anxiety to motorists, as they often suddenly appear ouly a few yards awn.v, right in tho course of the car, requiring accurate precision and presence of mind on tho part of the motorist, to avoid an accident, not to mention anything ol tli-o mental strain.

So you will see, sir, that the let of tho motorist is not altogether that of "beer and sldttlcs," as some imagine it to ,be. . My work takes me through tho town, in a ear, at nil hours of tho day and jiight, so I think 1 may safely say, I an; speaking from experience. In Upper Willis Street, where a double row of lines has just been laid, and which, as you know, is a very narrow thor* ongiifaro, tho tramears dash along about 20 or 33' miles per hour, crossing street intersections at the same rate, where Heaven help any vehicle which happens to he slowly crossing the street, at tho time of their mad onslaught. Is this the proper speed for tramears across intersections ? If so, why is it a breach of the law for a motorist? The speed of tramears should lie equally as well regulated as that of motor-ears, as, if anything, t-hcr are' more dangerous at intersecting streets than the murderous motor-ear. I know full well that there nro many offenders among motorists, but surely' we arc not the only ones, nor does' traffic ,regulation necessarily mean only motor regulation, as appears to be-tho ca'so in Wellington. I fear (iiat motorists 'are becoming like the Chineso,.; a long-suffering race, on whose backs all bunions are hoisted irrespec-iu-olv of whether'-■.'rightly or wrongly. .-■1 am. etc., • . MOTORIST.