TRAFFIC CONTROL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 775, 23 September 1929, Page 1

TRAFFIC CONTROL

USE OF COLOURED LIGHTS MR. G. ASHLEY’S OBSERVATIONS Auckland’s traffic problems may be solved by the use of automatic colour signals at busy street intersections. Mr. G. Ashley, chairman of the City Council Traffic Committee, has been investigating traffic problems in Sydney and Melbourne. He returned by the Aorangi this morning and the ideas and observations he gathered in Australia will be presented to the council in the form of a report. Mr. Ashley stated this morning that he examined traffic conditions for some

weeks both in Sydney and Melbourne, paying particular attention to the latter city. Melbourne, after an extended trial, has adopted the automatic threecolour signal at her busiest intersections and this is working satisfactorily. The signal consists of green, yellow and red lights, which flash automatically at given times. Tbe green denotes that the roadway is clear, the yellow, which is in the middle, that a change is about to take place, and the red means that traffic must stop. Sydney has not yet adopted this system, and is still using police. The great advantage of the automatic signals, says Mr. Ashley, is that they give the pedestrian a chance. This is badly needed in Auckland, as the pedestrian seems to receive the least consideration. “Australia has nothing to show us about trams,” continued Mr. Ashley. “The Auckland system is far ahead of that in either Melbourne or Sydney. Our cars are the envy of the tramway authorities there. In New South Wales the authorities are seeking to introduce legislation to enable them to control the bus traffic, the same as has been done in Auckland. Mr Ashley said that he heard on all sides' that times were hard in Australia, but it was not apparent to a visitor from Auckland.