Progress in easing city congestion

Traffic Chief Neil Semple said his department’s efforts to relieve traffic congestion along city streets are beginning to show some progress.

Superintendent Semple made these comments during a walk-about in the city, on which he was accompanied by Assistant Superintendent Owen Trotz and Sergeant Tessa Smith of the Brickdam Police Station. He observed that some drivers were complying with the parking signs in most areas but others were ignoring this at some crucial locations which caused the congestion.

Trotz told the Government Information Agency that the police have begun to enforce the no diagonal parking rule along King Street as it had previously eased the congestion on that street. Semple said similar measures will be introduced on Regent and Wellington streets as soon as the appropriate signs are in place. He said the department is also concerned about the congestion on Camp Street outside the City Mall. It was observed that drivers park their vehicles in a manner that impedes the free flow of traffic in the turning lane. Semple said that vehicles parked in that area would be towed away and the drivers prosecuted.

As regards vendors who cause obstructions on city streets, Trotz said vendors’ carts are vehicles and they are expected to comply with the traffic laws. Vendors’ carts were seen parked at corners and other places that obstructed the free flow of traffic. Trotz also cautioned vendors who sell from stalls at intersections and on the road shoulders. He said these persons are endangering their own lives since if a vehicle encounters an emergency that causes it to run off the road they could be injured.

Semple said he was also concerned about the manner in which both pedestrians and motorists react to the traffic lights. He said pedestrians should only cross when the “green man” is visible. He also noted that motorists were failing to stop at the amber signal and the red light catches them in the middle of an intersection, which could result in an accident.

Traffic Chief Neil Semple said his department’s efforts to relieve traffic congestion along city streets are beginning to show some progress.

Superintendent Semple made these comments during a walk-about in the city, on which he was accompanied by Assistant Superintendent Owen Trotz and Sergeant Tessa Smith of the Brickdam Police Station. He observed that some drivers were complying with the parking signs in most areas but others were ignoring this at some crucial locations which caused the congestion.

Trotz told the Government Information Agency that the police have begun to enforce the no diagonal parking rule along King Street as it had previously eased the congestion on that street. Semple said similar measures will be introduced on Regent and Wellington streets as soon as the appropriate signs are in place. He said the department is also concerned about the congestion on Camp Street outside the City Mall. It was observed that drivers park their vehicles in a manner that impedes the free flow of traffic in the turning lane. Semple said that vehicles parked in that area would be towed away and the drivers prosecuted.

As regards vendors who cause obstructions on city streets, Trotz said vendors’ carts are vehicles and they are expected to comply with the traffic laws. Vendors’ carts were seen parked at corners and other places that obstructed the free flow of traffic. Trotz also cautioned vendors who sell from stalls at intersections and on the road shoulders. He said these persons are endangering their own lives since if a vehicle encounters an emergency that causes it to run off the road they could be injured.

Semple said he was also concerned about the manner in which both pedestrians and motorists react to the traffic lights. He said pedestrians should only cross when the “green man” is visible. He also noted that motorists were failing to stop at the amber signal and the red light catches them in the middle of an intersection, which could result in an accident.