Solving 1 960's Traffic Jams

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 208, 18 September 1937, Page 17

Solving 1 960's Traffic Jams

Afr. Charles F. Kettering, xesearch engineer, told tho American Society of Civil Engineers that a new highway system must be provided to accommodate 37,000,000 motor yehicles by 1960. Th'e number of automobiles on the Mghways will increase 50 per cent. withiu the next 23 years, he said, while "an increase in motor vehiclo registration on our present highway system would almost prohibit much of our usual driving.,, Six tnillion of the motor vehicles roaming the roads in 1960 will be trueks, be said. Mr. Ketting, president of General Motors Besearch Corporation, spoke at the. 76th. annuai convention of the engineers' society. "Men in the autouijl.ile industry beReve we should have a h'ghwoj

system made up of types of roads designed to carry Irafiie safely," he said. "Such a plan would require a primary system of high speed highways crossing the country in all directions. It is estimated that 50,000 to 60,000 miles of snch super-highways would be sufiicient. Leading from them would bo a secondary system of good highways serving small cities and towns. The tliird system would consist of service highways serving rural areas. Mr. Kettering said that new highways should be designed for speeds of 60 miles an hour and more. The publiq would not consent, he said, to regulatory devices Gxing speeds at less than 50 niites an liour. Few accidcnts occur at higher speeds, Le said.