The Day The Lights

Came On In Suva!

From Elspeth Robbins Visitors to Suva on the Mariposa on September 22 must e been astonished at the large numbers of people congre ng on some street corners.

IE were people of all races d judging by the animated ex is and swooping arm gestures, ould suppose they were dis the results of a gigantic fish tnpetition or were making a i-Bomb protest.

Mariposa visitors were quite e that something entirely new ppening in Suva, irst intimation that the traffic vould be “on” that day oc at breakfast time. My hus knowing my Friday morning >ns to the market, butcher and would take me past the newly 1 lights on Burns Philp’s read out the announcement shind the Fiji Times. ng a mental note not to for take two pep pills straight reakfast, I promptly rose to yer his shoulder at the big page spread of diagrams pub under large headlines SUVA

Ic Lights In Opera-

Very Technical

mpanying the diagrams was f technical description (quote) hide-actuated installation con traffic detectors, a controller : signal faces within the con ne which extends about 100 3m each signal light”. e up at this point because my 1 intensely dislikes sharing his md said so. (Also one child to know where his socks

were, another clamoured for 1/6 for a school photo and the third was feeding the cat—bacon of all things, at 7/6 lb!) I was, however, interested to note that the little street just over Nubu kalau Creek was called Margaret St.

I didn’t know that before.

“Which light do I look at when I want to go around to the market?”

I enquired.

“I don’t know—just get into the right lane,” responded my husband, adding cautiously, “The diagrams are not exactly elementary.” Quite apart from the fact that I had had only a cursory glance at the diagrams, nothing is elementary at that hour.

After delivering the children to school, we continued towards town.

With another muttered reminder about “just keeping in the right lane”, my husband disappeared into the comfortable, safe precincts of a Suva building.

I was surprised to find the thing was simple (my IQ rapidly rises as the early-morning-rush subsides) and the change over was a credit to the traffic control people and whoever else was responsible.

The intersection was literally studded with constables who directed the traffic together with the lights— and continued to do so throughout the day. There were lots of happy smiles and encouraging beckonings to help us on our way!

Chaos—Almost The only time the situation ap proached anything like chaos was during the CROSS NOW signals on the pedestrian crossings. While the buzzer buzzed and the light flashed, pedestrians quickly caught on and stepped briskly across the road.

When, after only six seconds, most of them were still bunched half way across the road as the buzzer ceased to buzz and lights flashed DON’T CROSS NOW, they stopped like be wildered sheep. Then some continued on, some began to retrace their steps, and the majority still stood stock still, till a highly amused constable leapt off the footpath and shooed them towards the equally jovial con stable who opened up his arms to re ceive them on the other side.

This little drama was enacted over and over again, and how the watch ing crowds loved it!

After work, the whole family em-

Suva’s busiest corner now has traffic lights. The famous traffic policeman under the yellow stand ( below ) won’t be seen there again, for his stand has now been removed.

Photos: S. A. Whippy

I upon a Traffic Light Tour, t every other car-owning i was doing the same thing, tour was like a horse being •ound the hurdles before a chase. We crossed back and icross the intersection from all and lanes, the children in the sat whooping loudly when the vere green and groaning madly hey turned red against us, n my husband concluded I impletely orientated with all :hes, turnings and filterings, ded for home with scarcely a at the Hibiscus Festival lights about in the trees. Thank ss—only a policeman there— ght as we swept past one dy, there’s no lights and no an on this corner,” remarked ingest as we turned again, with a genuine tinge of sad c say farewell to that much aphed figure of the policeman yellow stand at BP’s corner, xists, from now on, only on tcards.