MOTOR TRAFFIC CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 130, 26 February 1920, Page 3

MOTOR TRAFFIC CONTROL

BRITISH SIGN SYSTEM ADVOCATED One very important feature in the control of motor speed on roads will form the subject of recommendations which will •probably bo embodied in the report of the City Engineer (Air. W. H. Morton) on his observations abroad. This concerns the description of signs erected in appropriate places for the guidance of motorists. It is held that by far the best system of signs is that adopted by the British Automobile Association, which has a very complete system of signs, that leaves no possibility of tho motorist not knowing what to do. One of the features is a system of coloured triangles erected on the vision line, each colour representing the speed rate allowed. There are other designs which indicate danger points, putting a driver immediately on the qui vivo. At present in New Zealand all manner of signs are erected, leaving the motorist in doubt as to whether any particular sicrn is an advertisement for snmebodv's pills or a sale notice, of the land on which it stands, and the sign-writing is so small in some cases that it is impossible almost for a irtan to look after his machine and rend the' notice. The tria.ngle erstcm. Mr. Morton thinks, should be adopted all over the world, so that, no matter where n driver comes from he would at once know his chief bearings as the driver of a car.

The management of the motor traffic on Enorlish roads is well nisli perfect. In addition to the sisrns referred to, Ibe shape and colour of which tell a motorist what ho wishes to know—there are uniformed pntrols stnt'oned on all' the main roads to help the motorist and check any breaches of the 'by-laws. Mr. Morton comes back impressed with the idea, that the annual registration of ears is necessary, if motor traffic is to b? efficiently controlled. Only . pome local bodies arc insisting on drivers possessing a certificate of competency For instance, a Wellington motorist must, havo such a certificate, but if, a motorist resides nt. Pctnne, the Hutt, or even Miramnr he need not posse's one. Tf statutory provision were, made that every driver of a ear should obtain a. certificate of competency, such anomalies would be removed.