Suva Has Its Traffic

Problems

l/THOUGH probably one of the smallest capitals in the British Commonwealth, Suva already its traffic problems. It has had n for some time. at of the town, the roads twist turn around the natural gullies i wind down to the sea. In the i there are two main streets, only one is open to traffic both s. To make matters worse many hese streets, both in and out ae town, meet at sharp angles.

Ith very little improvement ted in widening streets the town seen motor vehicle registration ;ase from 3,741 in 1950 to 6,621 5)54. In the same period, driv licences increased from 8,585 to 1. irther aggravating the position, rood people of Suva, accustomed he Islands habit of expecting js to come easily, have taken r granted that they could park ■ cars where they wished —pre- )ly right outside their office or . To have to park, as they do irerseas cities, half a mile or a away, to them would be almost lievable. Perhaps another m why life in Suva is preferable fe in Sydney! t all that is now to be altered.

Suva City Council has recently i over control of parking—or do so as soon as the new ations are gazetted. Parking s and pedestrian crossings will rovided, and speed limits fixed iertain streets.

Safety First Week, organised by Suva Rotary Club, is also being led in a belated attempt to in ime traffic sense into the heads »th drivers and pedestrians.

C education of pedestrians may e a more difficult task. Among h e Fijians, part-Europeans, 3se and Indians using the ;s there are many in town just the day. Many are literally i the bush,” where narrow s, winding along the river 5, up hill and down dale, do levelop that sense of alertness •affic generally found in the -dweller. ;ently, this correspondent met ears-old Fijian who was paying irst visit to Suva And his :e was only a little over 20 from the city. So absorbed he in the passing scene that little in the way of traffic or traffic co-operation could been expected of him, or of ■ others who wander at will ; the streets. veyer, a start is to be made; with talks to school children 1 schools both in and outside va, a constructive approach to s traffic problem may be made.