The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET, AUCKLAND FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1929 CONTROL OF TRAFFIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 577, 1 February 1929, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET, AUCKLAND FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1929 CONTROL OF TRAFFIC

ONE-SIXTH of New Zealand’s motor vehicular traffic now runs along the roads of Auckland. An official estimate gives the number of motor vehicles in Auckland’s streets alone as 16,000 a day. There are occasions and corners when and where traffic conditions and dangers to careless pedestrians suggest that twice that daily total at least passes by the worst congested areas at one time.

Fortunately there has been a remarkable freedom from bad accidents at busy street intersections. This appreciable fact must be attributed largely to the improved system of traffic control, including a notable standard of quick efficiency in the arduous work of traffic officers, and partly to the general desire of intelligent motorists to avoid disaster. Though many pedestrians sometimes in scared temper find difficulty in believing it, no motorist really wants to cut down a fellow citizen who cannot afford to give up the old-fashioned, hut decaying practice of walking. Still, the risks of the road increase rapidly in Auckland. Already the menace of mutilation (and violent death is such as should compel even a more rigorous system of motor and pedestrian traffic control together with an early provision of new outlets and other aids to safer vehicular movement. The chief city traffic inspector has drawn pointed attention to the great expansion of motor traffic, also to several flaws in the existing system of control, and to the urgent need of precautionary measures against possible accidents and better facilities for what fairly might be termed a bloodless progress of street traffic. Of course Mr. Hogan, because of his position and administrative responsibilities, could not say all that might have been said about the most glaring faults, but observers of conditions will not hesitate to fill the- gaps in his timely comment.

For example, the chief inspector yesterday told members of the Chamber of Commerce that the City Council had under view the creation of new outlets. Incidentally, a little later in his interesting address, Mr. Hogan remarked that the manner in which some cars were parked was a disgrace. Who is or should be responsible for the prevalence of that disgrace? And is it not something like an administrative disgrace that the dawdling City Council should have had under view for the past four years and longer the necessity for creating new outlets and yet apparently have done nothing toward their creation? The projected Belgium Street outlet as the best way to eliminating the dangerous congestion of motor traffic at the Symonds StreetGraftou Bridge-Karangahape Road intersection—the busiest crossroads in New Zealand—has been under view since the progressive days of the Gnnson regime. It is about time the present City Council departed from its supine methods or made way soon for a more energetic administration. There is no excuse in claiming that the creating of new outlets is inseparable from town-planning. Everybody knows that the Domin-ion’s-legislative venture in town-planning has been nothing better than a flood of chatter. What is required is more action and less talk about schemes.

As for the disgraceful parking of ears, due entirely to bad driving and sheer lack of consideration for other people, the traffic department need not be so tender in dealing with inefficient and thoughtless offenders. Nor should there be any further delay in hardening the driving tests and tackling the folly of allowing village local bodies to grant driving certificates almost as a revenue-producing formality. The growth of motor traffic does not justify an increase in the number of fools on the road. Finally, in Auckland, what is going to be done with Grafton Bridge, where pedestrian control represents grotesque stupidity, and where motor traffic demands a wider outlet. Is it proposed to adopt piecemeal widening' patchwork or will the Council face the future resolutely and adequately meet traffic needs?