CAR TRAFFIC LIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 116, 13 November 1939, Page 8

CAR TRAFFIC LIGHT

NO ROAD CONGESTION

PEAKS NEXT MONTH

Saturday was a fair test of transport and traffic control on a normal good day, and everything ran smoothly, without a hitch anywhere. They got there all right, but the Traffic Office, naturally well pleased with the well-deserved complimentary references to its effici-' ent control, is under no illusion that the easy run so far will continue, for traffic peaks are not expected until mid-Decenfber. Private car traffic has, in fact, been extraordinarily light in relation 4o the good attendances, and the car parks have not been used to more than a fraction of their capacity. • j Within a week, said the Chief Traffic Officer (Mr. L. S. Drake) today, the plans for control and the twenty new inspectors will have shaken down to the most effective routine, and, whatever the peaks may be, will get through with a minimum of trouble and delay. Already, said Mr.. Drake, several points of possible weakness had been spotted in advance of big traffic days, and generally 4he traffic pre-view had been to the advantage of the traffic staff and to motorists as well. ' H Commenting upon the excellent run of traffic on Saturday the Automobile Club remarked today that at no time was there difficulty or congestion, and the only delay to rapid progress to Rongotai between 7.45 and 8 p.m. on Saturday was the 30-mile speed limit. But inquiries and applications for traffic and parking maps and for advice as to camping facilities and the like received from intending visiting motor parties indicated a busy time ahead next month and probably right through the midsummer months. The plan of distributing traffic over four routes worked out by the Traffic Ofiice contributed in a remarkable degree to the free flow of car traffic, and in consequence to the reduction of delays and interference with tram and bus transport. The separation Aof the parks was another aid to smooth running, as the several routes of approach avoided congestion about the parks or at the entrances to the Exhibition. CARELESS STREET PARKING. It was evident on Saturday night, says the association, that a great many drivers parked their cars in the streets in the vicinity of the Exhibition and not in the parks, some sensibly, but the majority not so sensibly, for too many had not taken the trouble to acquaint themselves with the streets where parking is not permitted; for i instance, 'Bridge Street on Saturday night was parked out on both sides, and. Bridge Street, when traffic becomes heavy, will be a main approach to' the main gates of the Exhibition. The Traffic Department is taking mild action to discourage all parking in such streets, but definite action will have to be taken if notice is not taken of the "no parking" streets and areas. So far, it was added, the greater number of drivers use the traffic tunnel route at night in preference to Evans Bay Road, and there is not much doubt that this is due to the unlit length from the Patent Slip towards Point Jerningham. This gap in lighting of a main route is very unfortunate, for after running under excellent lighting conditions for so long, the driver is suddenly blacked out on the most difficult section —to strangers particularly—of any access route. The association had urged the lighting of this length from the first discussions of routes, and that early opinion had been fully confirmed by experience. Apart from the discomfort and risk of driving out of highly efficient highway lighting into the" poorest, or no, lighting, there is a possibility that the whole plan of traffic division will be disrupted if drivers decline to follow the waterfront roads when leaving the Exhibition, with consequent delays and complications on tramway routes. NO NEED FOR HEADLIGHTS. Several times drivers had been asked not to use their headlights on streets and roads provided with special lighting, the statement added, but too little notice was being taken of the request. The standard of illumination was ample for parking light driving and the main idea—brightness and appearance also came into it—was to provide such good lighting that head- [ light glare could be altogether avoid- [ cd. As had been pointed out earlier, also, a succession of glaring headlights was unfairly trying to men on | point duty.

"Thanks to a good plan and an effective control, and the generally good sense of motorists, the way has been simple and easy so far," the association concluded. "The big thing is to start right and work into good habits now; if that is done there should be no trouble with the holiday traffic that everyone anticipates.

. "The main points to keep in mind are to follow appropriate routes from different starting points, to watch parking rules, to work in with traffic men, and to use the special lighting as it is intended to be used, driving with parking lights only."