Windham County Observer

Traffic Authority Approves Publicity, Either Pro Or Con

Director William M. Green of the Connecticut Highway Safety Commission, known widely as an authority in the field of modern traffic control, approves thoroughly and is highly appreciative regarding the type of publicity given through The Observer concerning matters included in the sphere of vehicular transportation, with special reference to those which refer to the parking situation in Putnam. This he characterizes as "a fine public service".

Following out the trend of thought as is to be found in the famous saying credited to the late Phineas T. Barnum, master publicist, to the effect he did not care what people said about him, as long as they talked, Director Greene believes that it is beneficial to have a general discussion of parking and traffic-control regulations, even although many of the viewpoints may appear critical, highly controversial, and develop many a moot point.

Through the airing of the various views, he contends, eventually common ground is reached.

From a communication received from him this week by The Observer, the following is an excerpt.

Clarence M. Agard, Acting Editor
The Windham County Observer
Putnam, Connecticut

Dear Sir:

Thanks for the "spread" which you gave my letter to you regarding the parking situation in Putnam. You were most kind in your references to me and I appreciate it. Also, these days when newsprint is so restricted, you certainly went out of your way in printing the entire letter.

All discussion of traffic matters are of value because it is currently a perplexing subject. New York City and Boston are presently in a dither about parking, the streets of those cities being congested much of the time, stagnating traffic flow. The accident interest in traffic congestion is the potential hazards developed as traffic moves, after being dammed up, and unsafe driving follows as drivers sweep out of line and pass.

Few accidents develop when traffic moves slowly along with reasonable distances between cars.

Months ago the New England Council urged all communities to survey parking facilities. Next year, with steady increase in registrations the situation will worsen. The parking problem becomes vexatious because various interests conflict and interfere with a sensible solution.

In larger cities, where the problem becomes acute, such as Chicago, New York and Boston, authorities finally find they have to prohibit parking altogether on certain streets to permit free traffic flow.

However, Mr. Agard, all such discussion as you are making possible through your column is a fine public service; the various views are aired and, eventually, common ground is reached. Even "experts" can be wrong: but not on the statement that only moving vehicles cause accidents. That is quite obvious.

Sincerely yours,
William M. Greene,
Director