First published October 14, 1933
Sydney's first experiment with automatic traffic control was begun yesterday, with the inauguration of an "electromatic vehicle actuated controller' at the Intersection of Kent and Market streets.
The Minister for Transport (Mr. Bruxner), the Chief Secretary (Mr. Chaffey), and the Commissioner for Road Transport (Mr. S. A. Maddocks) were present to see the device put into operation.
Four posts, each carrying three sets of three-coloured lights, have been erected at the street corners, and broken "stop" lines have been painted in yellow on the roadway. Signal changes are effected through special "detectors" fitted in the road surface. These register the passage, speed, and direction of every vehicle passing over them, and the appropriate light signals are shown automatically,being exactly adjusted to the traffic flow at the moment.
Motorists took to the Innovation surprisingly quickly, and a number of policemen who had been detailed to help educate motorists in the system had little to do. The lights worked automatically, and streams of traffic halted or moved on rapidly In compliance to the red and green lights. Between each movement of traffic, the lights were amber, indicating a breathing-spell for the clearing of traffic from the intersection.
There were occasional incidents which temporarily marred the evenness of the system's working. An elderly lady, who had several children in the back of her motor car, stopped in the middle of the street and halted traffic for some minutes while the operation of the lights was explained to her.
A number of men, evidently pleased to see that the traffic policeman was missing from his accustomed spot, drove gaily across the intersection in defiance of the red lights.
The Superintendent of Traffic. Superintendent Carter, said that motorists could not be expected to fall In with the system at once, but the result of the first day's working was satisfactory. He said that the system was especially applicable to right-angled intersections with even flows of traffic in both streets. He did not believe that traffic police men would no longer be needed, because constables would still be necessary to detect offenders against traffic regulations.
It is claimed that statistics show a considerable diminution of accidents wherever this system has been installed, and that, since no continuously moving parts or delicately adjusted mechanisms are used, the installation functions indefinitely without attention or maintenance. The meaning of the signals was explained in yesterday's Herald (see below):
[The indications given by the signals with their respective sequence are as follow:
(1) Red means stop at the stop line before entering the intersection, and remain stationary until green appears.
(2) Red and amber indicate an Impending change from red to green, telling waiting drivers to prepare to start. They must not start until the green sign appears.
(3) Green means that drivers may proceed straight on or to the left or to the right, subject to the safety of others. Green does not imply a right to proceed without taking proper precautions.
(4) Amber means stop on the stop line. If a vehicle Is over the stop line when the amber first appears after a green, the driver should proceed through the intersection.]
The directors of Automatic Telephones Ltd suppliers of the apparatus, entertained the Ministers and other guests at Romano's. A working model of the apparatus was displayed on one of the tables, Mr Bruxner congratulated the company on its enterprise and confidence in installing the equipment for a test without asking the Government to bind itself to purchase.
It is thought that the equipment will cost about £1 a week for each street intersection.
Detail from the glass negative photo taken on the first day of operation of the first electric traffic signal in Sydney. Photo: Fairfax Archives
First published October 14, 1933
Google's doodle celebrating the 101st anniversary of the first electric traffic signal:
