REFORMS THAT WOULD MAKE TRAFFIC SAFER.
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A Series of Extremely Valuable Suggestions Emanating from Chief Constables and from Representatives of Road Users.
ONE of the most useful conferences, from the point of view of helping to co-ordinate the administration of the law throughout the country, is that approved under the Some Offiee co-ordination scheme, and consisting of representatives of all the police forces in Great Britain and all road users. This conference has been sitting for some little time, and has 'dealt with present-day traffic problems from the points of view of the police and road users. A report has just been issued and is obtainable at H.M. Stationery Office at the price of 4d. The police forces represented on the conference were the Metropolitan Police, the City of London Police, the County Chief Constables, the City and Borough Chief Constables and the Chief Constables Associations of England and Wales and of Scotland, -whilst the road users' organizations represented were the Royal Automobile Club, the Automobile Association, Commercial Motor Users Association, National Safety First Association and Motheioal Tramways Association.
No fewer than 67 different matters came up for consideration during the course of the proceedings, and, in addition, eeveral papers dealing with transport on the highway were considered in detail.
The various causes of traffic congestion and the effects thereof were examined, as well as the various difficulties that occur in the conduct and control of all forms of traffic. We will briefly detail some of the recommendations made by the conference
(1) The Motor Cars (Use and Construction) Order of 1904 should be so amended as to „cover the compulsory use of a suitable means of preventing a car from running away when left unattended in hilly districts.
(2) With regard to the proposal that, when a tramcar is stationed at any anthorized stopping-place, every driver of a vehicle who intends to pass on the left should draw up immediately before arriving at such stopping-place until the roadway is clear of passengers enterTng or leaving the car, the conference considered that the existing powers under the. Motor Car Act of 1903, Section 1, are sufficient to enable the police to deal with the matter.
(3) No recommendation was made upon the subject of pillion-riding on motorcycles.
(4) No vehicle with more than 14 seats should be permitted to be driven on unsuitable by-roads. The conference considered that the existing powers for prohibiting or restricting the driving of vehicles of any specified class on any specified highway were too cumbersome to deal with the subject, and should be amended.
(5) In order to avoid overcrowding of motor coaches when there is a rush, as on the occasion of some large public gathering, it was recommended that authority be obtained for granting licences for motor coaches for a minimum period of one week.
(6) All heavy motor vehicles should be fitted with refleeting mirrors.
(7) With regard to motor omnibuses, attention is called to the position of the petrol tank: (8) The proposals that powers should be conferred on police officers in uniform or holding the proper authority to examine the braking equipment of motor vehicles is endorsed.
(0) Carmen's pull-ups in busy traffic arteries should be prohibited.
(10) Legislation should be promoted to enable local authorities to legislate the hours of loading and unloading in streets, power being granted to local authorities to compel owners of warehouses to provide randern appliances for the purpose of loading and unloading vehicle.
(11) White lines crossing roadways at road junctions are recommended, instructions to drivers of vehicles being that, when they are held up in a traffic block. the foremost vehicle should not peat over the white line, thus leaving room for pedestrians to cross the toad in safety.
.(12) At curves in tramlines where there is not sufficient apace for an ordinary vehicle to pass, and at any place *here there is less than 9 ft. 6 ins, between the outer rail and the kerb, tramway and other authorities should be corn
polled to indicate such pinching Points in a manner to he approved.
(13) Petrol pumps on the footpath or kerbside are considered to be an obstruction, and the conference understood that they are illegal.
(14) Careful consideration should be given to the question of prohibiting processions in the streets, because they cause dislocation of traffic.
(15) Street markets and street vendors cause an obstruction to traffic, and it is recommended that positions for street traders should not be fixed without consultation with the chief officer of police.
(16) Slow-moving traffic should he compelled to keep as near the left or near side of the road as possible.
(17) The majority of the members of the conference were of the opinion that power should be granted to limit and restrict the use of tramcars in narrow streets and congested areas.
(18) Power should be obtained to prohibit the use in the streets of any vehicle mainly for the purpose of displaying advertisements without a licence from the local authorities, such licences only being granted under certain standard conditions.
(19) Drivers of vehicles turning from one street into another often create risks, and it is recommended that legislation be promoted so that it should he an offence not to keep to the left-hand kerb when so doing.
(20) There shall be a limitation of the number of omnibuses plying in the busy parts of a town.
(21) Parking-places for light and heavy vehicles should be allocated in all towns.
(22) Main and secondary roads should be clearly indicated by warning signposts for the information, of drivers of vehicles, the signposts being of a standard pattern.
(23) Road construction and camber shanld receive special attention, so as to 'provide an incentive to heavily laden vehicles to keep to the near side of the road. .
(24) More alternative routes should be provided by linking up streets in a continuous line for motor traffic.
(25) More one-way streets should be provided, and on such streets tramcars should not be allowed to run in both directions.
(26) It was proposed that the Ministry of Transport should deal with the subject of brilliant headlights on motor vehicles by legislation at the earlieet possible moment. The use of coloured lights at night to signal the direction in which a vehicle is proceeding is not recommended.
(27) The order as to the light to be carried by persons driving animals should be revived and made permanent.
(28) All slow-moving vehicles should carry a distinct and separate red rear light, the Lights on Vehicles Act being amended to embrace bicycles.
• (29) A white light should be carried on the extreme_ front off side of a trailer which is of greater width than the locomotive.
(30) Warning lights should be placed to indicate dangerously placed and permanent end temporary obstructions. The gates of all railway crossings should be lighted so as to show a red light when the gates are closed against the highway.
(31) Traffic signals to be employed by constables controlling traffic should be standardized.
(32) A set of draft regulations is put forward for the control of passengers of motor vehicles who have a tendency to throw articles from the vehicles, to blow noisy instruments and to be a nuisance to the community.
(32) Power should be obtained to obviate the annoyance caused by thud-splashing from vehicles.
(24) The attention of the Ministry of Transport is drawn to the apparently excessive weights hauled by road locomotives.
In support of the necessity for standardization of regulations, the conference states that traffic is no longer local in character, and it is well-nigh impossible for drivers and others who use the highways to recognize boundaries and become informed of the several local requirements when boundaries are reached.