Traffic Flow Liaison
| Published date | 01 January 1971 |
| Date | 01 January 1971 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X7104400115 |
| Subject Matter | A Letter |
from the pocket of the vehicle owner, but the result would surely be
beneficial to society as a whole. The road system will be used more
efficiently and, what is important from the Police Service's point
of
view, the burden of traffic responsibilities may be lessened. This
view is supported by the finding
of
the Smeed Report of 1962, which
estimated
that
in Central London alone the anticipated reduction in
congestion arising from the use of a direct charging system, would
save some £800,000
per
annum in police costs.
A
LETTER
TRAFFIC
FLOW
LIAISON
Dear
Editor,
In the September issue
of
the Police
Journal, Inoted with interest
your
commentary
on
traffic flow liaison.
Frustrations
usually arise from a
lack
of
communication, lack
of
con-
sideration,
or
a failure to appreciate
the effect
of
short and long term road
works. Fixed cycle traffic signals
erected by contractors do not ade-
quately
cater
for peak
hour
traffic
flow or what is more galling, holiday
traffic. Manual operation, which can
be a costly business to the contractor,
is always preferable. The police, when
brought into preliminary discussions
on intended road works, invariably
try to arrange for off-peak working
so as to reduce inconvenience to
motorists, but with
labour
costs it
becomes increasingly difficult to get
100 per cent co-operation from con-
tractors. No
doubt
competitive tenders
76
for projects are submitted without
off-peak working being taken into
account.
The local radio stations which are
being developed will no
doubt
playa
more
important
part
in advising the
motorist
about
day to day road con-
ditions.
In
our
rapidly developing City where
diversions are commonplace, agreat
deal of advance publicity through the
local press giving simple maps and an
explanation
of
the reason for the
diversions goes a long way to con-
ditioning the motorist, in
order
to
reduce the frustrations which often
lead to inconsiderate driving and an
adverse road safety report.
Yours sincerely,
W.
DONALDSON
Assistant
Chief
Constable
of
Birmingham
January 1971
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