Traffic Control during and after Raids
| Author | John Williamson |
| Published date | 01 January 1943 |
| Date | 01 January 1943 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X4301600109 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
Traffic Control during and after Raids"
By
JOHN
WILLIAMSON,
O.B.E.
Chief
Constable
THE maintenance of traffic routes for the Military and other essential
services, and the control of traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian,
has presented many difficult problems to the Police of this country,
especially in areas subject to heavy enemy attack.
The
old roads of cities and towns of this country are
ill
designed
(ifthey weredesigned originally) or prepared to accommodate the sudden
and sustained movement of heavy traffic, which would surely be the
result of heavy enemy attack, or in the event of invasion.
That
factor
operates both ways and favours defence.
Many roads have been widened and modernised in order to cope
with the increasing volume of peace-time traffic. Such roads must be
put
to the best possible use and be made available for concentration of
forces to be employed in defence.
This
remark includes forces employed
in Civil Defence as well as armed Forces.
The
following is only an outline of the arrangements which have
been made in one particular town to assist the Police in the duty of
controlling traffic under present circumstances, and more particularly
from the point of view of congestion which might be caused in air raid
conditions, as it would be highly undesirable even to indicate routes
predetermined as military roads.
Following an intensive raid, far-reaching traffic diversions are
recognised as inevitable, and it is necessary to prohibit non-essential
traffic altogether in parts of some particular areas. Diversions extend
to points very distant from the area of destruction, and are,' as a rule,
aresponsibility cheerfully undertaken by the surrounding County
Forces.
At the same time all possible steps are taken to ensure that essential
traffic, such as Military parties detailed to work in the damaged area,
Post OfficeUnits engaged on restoring communications, Food Convoys,
etc., are not excluded or delayed and that, last
but
not least in import-
ance, Civil Defence
units-including
National Fire Service
vehicles-
have free access to, and movement in, these areas,
Plans for employing Military aid for traffic duties have been
prepared in advance of any emergency, in consultation with the local
Military authority.
The
only difficulty experienced in the excellent
•
This
article
has necessarily
had
to be
curtailed,
and
certain
iIlustrations
omitted,
to
meet
the
requirements
of
the
Censor.
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