Traffic Organization in a New Zealand City.
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AUCKLAND (New Zealand) Corporation claims to have pioneered traffic organization years before many English authorities realized that there was even a need for it. The authorities in the city established a traffic department in 1894, when an inspector was appointed at £110 per annum to ensure, amongst other things, the registration of cabs and buses_ Thirty-two years ago the population of Auckland was about 30,000, and traffic, as it is now known, was non-existent Tramways there were, but of the horse-drawn variety. The motor vehicles that are
• chiefly responsible for to-day's traffic problems were quite unknown, though, perhaps. vaguely foreshadowed.
It was not until 1914 that the city council commenced to issue licences to
drivers of vehicles. In that year ,484 of these licences were issued, and in 1925 the number had grown to 13,656. Heavy-vehicle lice/lees issued in 1915— the first year—numbered 484, in 1925 2,730.
The traffic department estimates that there are over 9,000 motor vehieles in daily use in Auckland City. Last year 13,656 driving licences were issued by the city authorities, and licences isnuod by adjacent boroughs made the total well over 15,000.
For some years the control of traffic at main intersections in Auckland City was in the hands of the police department, but some time ago the Commissioner of Police gave notice of the termination of • the agreement, and the council has made arrangement for carry
ing out the duties. The total cost for the first year is estimated to be about 3,288. This will provide for day-and-• night traffic control at all important points.
About three years ago the Auckland City Council erected a number of raised safety zones at important tramway loading points. These zones have proved an unqualified success. They have added to the safety and convenience-of tramcar passengers and, as motor vehicles are not compelled to stop when tramcars are standing at these points, traffic is kept moving more freely than before the. erection of these zones. The safety zones vary between 30 ins. and
60 ins, in width, with a'7-in. kerb, and are generally long enough to accommodate two tramcars.
The off-side rule of the road for vehicular traffic at street intersections has been adopted by the city council. Auckland i the first city in the Dominion to enforc“ this rule. This rule requires that a vehicle must give way to another approaching on its right, the latter proceeding on its course. The new rule will not apply to street crossings where a traffic officer is on duty.
During the past year or so the use of vehicles parading the main thoroughfares of the city with advertising matter has grown to a considerable 'extent.
Asthese publicity " stunts " interfered with general traffic the council decided recently to prohibit advertising vehicles from using certain busy thoroughfares.
A considerable number of traffic domes has been installed at busy intersections throughout Auckland. Some of these domes are lighted at night. Although at first road users were inclined to regard the "poached eggs" or "silent policemen" with disfavour, these useful traffic guides are now admitted to be invaluable.
There is a by-law in force in Auckland which makes-it an offence for the driver of any motor vehicle to pass a tramcar that is stationary for the purpose of setting down or taking up passengers. This does not apply when the tramcar is alongside a safety zone or at a terminus.
The traffic department of Auckland makes use of portable Loadometers for weighing fully loaded vehicles in connection with the collection of "heavy traffic fees. The device, which was described in our columns some time ago, is shown in use in an accompanying illustration.