TRAFFIC INSPECTOR

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10302, 11 January 1927, Page 6

TRAFFIC INSPECTOR

A BUSY MAN

WATCHING MOTORISTS DAY AND , NIGHT

TESTING TWO 1 DRIVERS EVERY DAY

To the uninitiated it might seem that a traffic inspector lias lighted upon every man’s ideal of a job which has few duties and provides air day in which to exercise them. The public only see lum standing at street intersections on Gusy days or. driving about in other people’s cars prior to issuing a license. . ~ . Yet, even a traffic inspector lias to work overtime if lie desires to perform ibis work thoroughly. The mere fact that the - publiconlv hears from him when lie ‘brings cases , before the Court, does not mean that those are. the only occasions on which he is on the" look-out after hours for by-law breakers. It is only tlio uncertainty of a traffic inspector’s movements and the knowledge that he is liable to be planted anywhere- day or night- that keeps motorists within bounds. Issuing warnings to the unwary is also a large responsibility assumed ly both the police and traffic inspectors. Except for flagrant breaches of regulations few motorists are called upon to appear before the local S.M. unless they have been made fully aware . either through the newspapers or by tlie inspectors of an intention .t.o prosecute future offenders against certain by-laws. An indication of portion of the work of the local Borough Traffic Inspector can be gleaned from the undermentioned figures representing the number of licenses granted for the last nine months of 1926. It can be seen that he tested the capabilities of new drivers on an average of .well over two a day throughout the period. Licenses were issued as follows: April 1167, May 262, June 79, Jujy 148, August 78, September 63, October 72, November 63, December 72, representing a grand total of 2006. Included in the applications were 287 from men who had never driven before and 7S from women Who had never previously held a license. Fifty-one motor cyclists applied for licenses. In addition 237 motorists who had previously held licenses but allowed them to lapse applied for fresh licenses. All these applicants had to be tested. During tlie same period the Cook County traffic inspector issued 631 licenses.