UNIFICATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL.
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Road Traffic Conditions are Admirable To-day for the Motorist, says "The Inspector," but He Again Urges Early Standardization of Traffic Control on Nottingham Lines.
IN the very early days of motoring many of us can remember that there was little enough to conduce to comfort so far as highway conditions were concerned. As a matter of fact, we thought it rather wonderful to be allowed to drive our horseless carriages on the main roads at all. We felt rather as if we were daring to run locomotives, by some fantastic means, away from their rails.. Very few can recall the experience of driving a light locomotive behind a red flag, but the writer is amongst those who possess a summons to attend at court and to explain why he, in August, 1903, " did drive a light locomotive at a greater speed than 12 miles an hour—to wit, 2Gle miles an hour or thereabouts "—a pleasing reminiscence of the unfriendly conditions surrounding motoring in the early days. Roads were never "dustless." -Through routes were almost forgotten from the coaching days. The only road maps of any use were those designed for cyclists and pedestrians. Signposts were invariably dilapidated, and there was of course, a. complete absence of those very useful yellow discs which are provided by the A.A. up and down the country nowadays. Conditions were irkseme and every short journey was an adven ture, both mechanically and directionally. ..
The police were wholly and entirely unsympathetic—a little puzzled as to what to do with this new arrival on the highways, but always eager and ready to direct and control it somehow or other. They knew little enough of the offences of "undue noise," the "emission of visible vapour," " driving to the danger of the public," or even of " exceeding the speed litnit," but these automobiles, autocars, and horseless carriages, as they were . uncertainly styled, were obviously contrivances that must he directed and restricted by hook or by crook.
All that uncertainty has, of course, long ago passed, and both the police and the public know within fairly broad limits what may and what may not be done by those who to-day elect to travel the road by motor vehicle. There is, however, still cause' for complaint in the lack of national unanimity so far as police control of traffic is concerned. There are signs that something like standardization and codification may ultimately control the "arm of the law," hut to-day we are still puzzled, as we drive up and down the country, by the varying nature of the signs made to us and to other road users by the constable on traffic duty. Long-distance traffic has .developed to such an extent that it is almost imperative that it should no longer be subject to local whims • and fancies on the part of traffic experts. Pew towns like 'to take tips from . others ; one cannot imagine Salford admitting anything good from Manchester, or Glasgow from London. .But such petty jealousy should not be. allowed to endanger the safe conduct of modern through: self-propelled traffic,Which so often to-day finds itself in areas where the uplifted hand, familiar as a danger signal in Metropolitan areas, is a sign to "carry on " ; or, coming -from an East Coast town, one is puzzled to finda'constable in Merionethshire indulging in Swedish drill at •a busy corner— or even .at a very dull one—the meaning of which is more difficult to interpret even than the language.
1312 In Nottingham particularly, and in a number of other Midland centres of importance, a very simple code has been officially adopted, and it has received cordial approval by all concerned ; it is to be hoped that legislation—and mutual agreement—may see its rapid and universaj adoption. At cross-roads and junctions the constable raises his hand to bar traffic from or to any particular thoroughfare, and leaves the driver the responsibility of taking any route not so forbidden. There is no attempt to wave individual vehicles 'along, to beckon, cajole, or threaten. If a driver attracts a constable's attention, the latter bars cross-roads if he may proceed ; if he may not, he bars his road. The whole thing is. very simple,. and only needs to he adopted throughout the country, so that one is not ceaselessly kept alive to the possibility of variations, to ensure a great degree of safety at danger points and greatly to facilitate traffic control so far as the police are concerned.
There is every prospect that the "Keep to the left " rule for pedestrians will be the understood thing, everywhere but in the Metropolis, at an early date, and although for a, while it will undoubtedly he more honoured in the breach than the observance, it will facilitate the task of the motor driver and prolong his life., as well as that of the pedestrian. Very great is the improvement in the road courtesy displayed by the heavy lorry driver—amost noticeable impro.vement during the past two years. In all parts of the country he is probably, to-day, amongst the. least offensive of highway users. It is only to he wished that a similar compliment could be paid to the touring-ear driver. There are, withou't question, more poor drivers, more inconsiderate drivers of touring cars in certain parts of the country to-day than ever before, aid the writer is amongst those who/ hold, that the entire abolition Of the speed limit will be fraught with great danger to other users, although a few speed-merchants may have to do time. • There are certain, too, to he miscarriages of justice, by reasom of the impossibility of certifying when " danger to the public occurs.
Road conditions are certainly very much more comfortable for the motorist of to-day. He drives on roads that, in normal conditions, are magnificently surfaced and are dustless. He is seldom interfered with if he drives at reasonable speeds' even if they be a. trifle in excess of-what is legal. He can, /napless, find his way pretty well anywhere in this country to-day, thanks to excellent signposting and the use of village signs. • Corners have been eased for him, curves straightened, and sometimes gradients eased. He is a recognized user of the highway—almost the recognized user may we say? We only want a little common sense in police direction, and, short of decreased taxation, there is little left to grumble at. Unless perhaps the police may reflect' on the apocryphal tale. from Paris. A Cockney, puzzled by the white wand -Of the traffic-controlling gendarme inthe French capital, askedhim:—
"Why don't you fiold, your hand -up when you want to stop the traffic l" " Ah, sir," was the reply, "if I hold my hand up, se 'orse bite it! "