"Stop" signs on Heu Heu and Tamamutu street intersections

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 59, 29 July 1965, Page 1

"Stop" signs on Heu Heu and Tamamutu street intersections

Every street intersecting Tamamutu and Heu Heu streets is to be made a compulsory stop, the Taupo Borough Council has decided. In addition , the Tr is to be asked to report on the possibilitg of "Stop" signs on Mere Road, Heu Heu, Tamamutu, Paetiki and Rotokawa streets where theg intersect with Rifle Range Road.

The counciPs major decision was recommended by the district officer of the Transport Department, Mr A. G. R. Bnllen. With "Stop" signs on the corners he recommended, Mr Bullen thought enforcement would be much easier and any bad driving habits could be corrected. He explained that present. conditions did not warrant a full traffic survey in the borough. It was thought that an adequate programme of traffic counts shonld be sufficient to give the traffic patterns of the borough. When these were established, the question of "Stop" signs and "Give Way" signs conld be reviewed. Taupo Borough councillors put different values on

"Stop" and "Give Way" signs in the borough when they were discussing the report. Some councillors thought "Give Way" signs encouraged drivers to use the adjoining road as a throughway; o t h e r s thought where there was no "Stop" sign, there should not be a sign at all. The borough engineer, Mr W. K. Kiddle, told council that the cost of a survey would be unnecessary at the present time, according to Mr Bullen. Mr Kiddle said the normal traffic lanes in Taupo took 1000 vehicles per hour and this left plenty of capacity on the town's streets. He quoted the recent accident near the AC Baths as an example where, he

said, provision should be made for "Stop" signs. Cr G. Marlow commented that council was worried by the problem of the signs and it was a pity that the motorist was not worried too. Mr Kiddle: If we put too many "Stop" signs up we I are treating the motorist unfairly. Why should every motorist be held up for one or two? I cannot agree to "Stop" signs on aU corners. Cr J. M. Stanley agreed with the reeommendations of council, but wanted the extra corners mentioned discussed at the next meeting. Both Cr Marlow and Cr C. J. N. Newbold were of the opinion that "Give Way" signs created laxity on the part of the driver. Cr Newbold said he did not agree that "Stop" signs should be put on unnecessary corners. This view was also supported by Cr I. T. Logan who did not believe that "Stop" signs on all intersections would make the roads safer. However, council decided ' to adopt the reeommendations and request a further report from the Transport ' Department.