Trafic Signals.
The following correspondence between the Council and Messrs. Beck and Swann, Secretaries of the Club of China and the North China Motor Insurance Association, is published for general Shanghai, August $1, 1927.
Dear Sin—We are directed by our Committee to suggest, now that the "question of ce-ordination of street intersection traffic signals has been effected anc definite systems have been decided upon for the future, that the Traffic Depart ment give the fullest possible attention to the matter of signals to be given by the drivers of various ids of vehicles, Paragraph No, 31 of the Traffic Regulations sets forth the necessary signals but it would appear that their presence in the Regulations unknown to the majority of drivers of motor vehicles og strict observance is seldom seen. It is no uncommon thing for a vehicle to turn to right or left or to stop without any signal being given whatsoever by the driver, and in many instances where a signal is given it is not the correct one set forth in the regulations. Vehicles with left hand drive are probably the worst offenders in the matter, of incorrectly conveying signals to other vehicles following and to the Trae Constables on Point Duty.
Tt would appear to our Commitiee that the Regulations regarding the necessity: for signals from drivers, both to vehicles following and to Traffle Constables on Point Duty, tight be brought more forcibly to the attention of drivers and after fa short period strong action taken against offenders. The publicity which this Club is able to give to the matter is not sufficient owing to the fact that the Membership does not include all owners of motor cars, nor does it include the t{ewners of Commercial Vehicles and Appliances, which constitute one of the most "serious dangers owing to the difficulty which the driver meets in obtaining a clear view of traffic in his rear, To meet ianguage difficulties and the varying standard of intelligence of drivers, it would seem that illustrated pamphlets in several languages are necessary.
'A. special point might be made of the fact that it is jus: as essential that the correct signals be given to Traffic Constables point duty, indicating whether it is desired to turn to right or left or} go straight ahead, as it is to give them to following traffic, We are, Dear Sir, Yours faithfully, Beek & Swann, Secretaries, The Automobite Club of China.
[offenders in the matter of incor-reetly conveying to the vehicles following what they are going to do. A large number of drivers think it is quite sufficient, to hold out their arm horizontally which should mean that they are turning in that direction but locally often means that they are turning in the opposite direction.
The giving of a -xrong signal should in cur Committee's opinion be as much a punishable offence ap, say, parking in an unauthorised spot. Our Committee's suggestion is that the Traffic Authorities should be asked to give greater Publicity to the correct signals laid down in Traffic Regulations, instructions as to what these signals are, with illustrations, to be widely circulated in English, French and Chinese. This should be followed by a strenuous campaign against drivers la which the driving public should be asked to rerder every assistance by reporting all cases coming to their notice. Without the help of the public the duties of the police become almost {o> onerous bat the public requires to be awakened to a sense of its public duty and responsibilities. appeal to the Publ Municipal Councils might have some effect.
Our Committee are evinced that many people do not report what they look upon as minor offences simply because they cannot of will not afford the time which is taken up by appearing as a witness in the Consular or Provisional Courts.
It is probably not within the bounds of practical polities under present conditions, Lut the establishment of regular traffic courts to deal with these offences or the granting of authority to the Police t> deal with first and second offences of a minor nature under licensing conditions, with possibly a small fine for the second offence, might considerably help matters.
Our Committee will be glad to assist the Police by distributing any. leaflets of instructions to drivers fon the lines indicate' to the Members of this Association who will in turn hand copies of same to all their clients.
We are, Dear Sir, Yours faithfully.
Beek & Swaxw, Secretaries.
North China Motor Insurance Aszociation. 8 M. Eowanos, Erq., Secretary, Municipal Conse i, September 15, 1927. Tam directed to acknowledge receipt of your letters yot August 31 and September 1, on
control the subject of trafic signals and Secretary, Municipal Coun Shanghai, September 1, 1927.
Dean Sin,—We are directed to forward ypu the following views expressed at a recent Meeting of the Committee of this Associati and to suggest that the various points raised be brought to the attution of the department cerned:—Tu the matter of signals laid down in the Traffic Regulations, which must be given by the drivers of various kinds of vehicles, it is no tuneommon thing for a vehicle to turn to the right or left oF to stop without any 3 iwen by the driver. Vehicles with Jett hand drive are partial earthquake in 1923, and rer that that he took up \nis residence in Shanghai, We is remenibered ax a Very interesting talker amt sill be greatly missed by those frie aho were fortune jaie to ave heard him tell of his experiences during his long com nection with the Far East.
He was born January 9, 1852, at! Byram, Laso, Denmark.
for the dstneions which he are the Civil In reply thereto, I am directed to inform sou that, if the ce-ordination of street intersection traffic signals, alluded to in the first paragraph your former letter, refers to the system of synchronized signa's on jing Road, no definite dee.sion las to its suitability has yet With regard to the question of motorists' obligation to assist in the regulation of traffic, I) am irected to stale that, before a motor driver's licence is issued, the applicant is required to pass a test to show that he knows the correct. liliand signals to use, og laid down in Traffic Regulation 31; but it has to be remembered that the given: by a driver of a car left hand drive are not always (easily seen by the driver of a cor with a right band drive, and vice tarea, and, in the case of a community of' international character not considered advisable to try [to restrict care to a right or left hand drive only. Signalling from closed car is alco not easy, but the' percentage of accidents, resulting from badly given the absence of signals is very low.
Should, however, any member of the Automobte Club of China or of the general public report drivers for not complying gun. ord Division, Std Class, ma received November, 1907, and, ith Ribbon of service, take' the necessary steps "to deal with the delinquent With reference to your suggestion that illustrated pamphlets in several [languages. on the observance of traffic regulations, are rendered necessary by linguistic difficulties and the varying standard of intelligence among drivers, 1 am directed to inform you that pictures with Chinese. wording were formerly distributed to ricsha-pullers for this parpose, but that their issue was discontinued some three years ago fas they proved to be of little value. It is accordingly not proposed to incur the expense of printing pamphlets or charts for the information of drivers, though the Trafic Department would attend to the distribution of any which the Automobile Club might care to supply.
The above remarks apply equally to your second letter of September 4, written on behalf of the North China Motor Intarance Association, T have only to add that the suggestion of this Asuociation, as to the establishment of troffle coprts, or the delegation of judicial func: tions to the Police, has already received the close consideration of the Council in connection with Recommendation No. Gi of the Trafic Commission Report, issued in October, 1926, and that' certain necessary enquiries relating to this problem are now in progress, am, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, J. M. McKee, Deputy Secretary.
Messrs. Beck & SwaNy, Traffic Commission Report.
Recommendation No. 60, members of the Traffic Commission, including Mr. J, S. S. Cooper, the [Commission Chairman, huve Fressed disappointment that the n's Recommendation No.
'00 was not endorsed by the Council; their letter, they also recucst reconsideration of the matter with a soon at possible. No, 60 rewds:—
After much deliberation it hus been considered desirable that the Courcil should at once secure the services of well qualified officer from outside, sources for the command of the! traffic police. Ho should be required, have technical eof tremie problems in a m 3 to be of high organising capacity: is essential that the officer chosen should be adaptable to local conditions. In order to become familiar swith the peculiarities of the Shangial situation, itis suggested that for at least six months after his arrival he should not be placed in command, but should be required to study: the: problem."
The letter from the six members lof the Traffic Commission and the} eons ier care alpcnded
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.