TRAFFIC CONTROL BY SIGNAL DISGS.
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Scotland Yard's New Signal for Use on Obstructed Roads and Elsewhere.
MHE Commissioner of the Metro
politan Police, with a view to the reduction of the cost of control of traffic on the highway where a part of the road is temporarily out of use whilst repairs are being carried out, has recently sanctioned the employment of a new electric device which, working in pairs, can he placed at each end of the obstructed road, being operated by a constable situated approximately midway.
The device Consists of a trestle 7 ft. high having an illuminated dial above and a red diamond-shaped panel below bearing the words "Traffic Signal" in large letters, and, in order to show its authority, the words "Metropolitan Police." At the bottom is a triangular disc, the whole apparatus being conspicuous and, therefore, not readily to
be passed without excuse. Above the large white dial; which is 2,ft. in diameter, are red, and green signal lights for use at night time.
Normally, an obstructed length of roadway of which only half is open for traffic is controlled by two constables, one at each end, and where a side road enters the roadway in the area of obstruction a third constable is often needed. By means of a pair of electric signalling devices, one at each end of the obstructed area, the services of one and sometimes two constables can be dispensed With.
The constable in control of the traffic is able to stop either or both streams of traffic, or to release one stream. By means -of a switchboard he can cause to appear on the face of either dial a broad vertical green band and the words "All Clear," but it is not possible to signal " All Clear" simultaneously at both ends of the obstructed area. When a stream of traffic has to be stopped, the constable, by means of his sWiteaboard, can cause to appear on the disc a broad horizontal red band and the word "Stop." A bell can be rung by the constable to indicate a change.
Where the road happens to be curved the value of the device is enhanced, because a curved section invariably compels, the employment of three constables.
At present the device is being tested on a section of the Finchley Road which is undergoing repair, and in this particular case the services of two further constabhis would be needed if it were not in use.
So far, the device appears to be working quite successfully, and the police say that drivers of omnibuses and commercial vehicles, as a whole, obey the signal without hesitation. Of the drivers of private vehicles the same cannot be said, as they often try to be clever and rush past the signal when set at "Stop," in the hope of picking up the tail-end of the stream of traffic which they can see in front of them. and on the second day on which the device was in use the driver of a private ear ran into one of the signals and put it out of action. Women drivers are prone to ignore the signal. So soon as its purpose becomes known, however, and its full observance insisted upon, the usefulness of the device -will be more
apparent. It will be useful in other circumstances besides those arising from road repairs. The device is the inven tion of Mr. G. A. Wootton, the assistant engineer of the Engineering Department of the Metropolitan Police.
It has not yet been determined whether the instructions on the device can be held to be legal instructions given to traffic. It can be argued, of course, that they are, the device being merely a means of expressing the instructions of the constable controlling the traffie, and, therefore, carrying such authority as is vested in him.
Our illustrations show the device placed upon the pavement, but it is obvious that it must be so placed that .
it can be observed and its significance appreciated by drivers of approaching vehicles and particularly when a queue of vehicles forms up behind it and Close to the kerb. If the signals are to have the weight of legal authority, nun-. observance of their behests carrying liability to a penalty, it is important that the device shall be prominent and unmistakable in its meaning.