9.39. The numbers of Road Opening Permits issued were:
Utilities, services, etc.
Island 1,390 Mainland 916 Total 2,306 Government Sub-departments 810 1,160 Total 1,970 4,2769.40. The total expenditure spent on trench reinstatement works was $2,680,000, of which $1,149,000 was for the Island and $1,531,000 for the Mainland.
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING SECTION
Acting Chief Engineer:
W. C. BELL, A.M.I.C.E.
GENERAL
9.41. The application of traffic engineering techniques in an effort to provide for the safe and expeditious movement of pedestrian and vehicular traffic on the Colony's roads continued during the year.
9.42. Vehicle registration has been increasing steeply since 1952 and despite the imposition of higher taxation on vehicles and motor fuel in 1961, the rate of increase of vehicles showed little sign of tapering off. In 1962, 7,234 additional vehicles were registered compared with 1961, which represented a linear rate of increase of 14.5%. Census taken at selected locations in the urban traffic network indicated that the increase of vehicular traffic on the roads was generally at a similar rate. At locations where road capacity was already approaching near saturation conditions, traffic increase was necessarily small but its effect on congestion was proportionately greater.
9.43. Primarily due to the increased vehicular and pedestrian traffic, the total number of accidents again increased but fortunately at a proportionately smaller rate. This is illustrated on the graph on page 52 which also sets out basic information on road mileages, vehicle registration, population and motor fuel consumption. In relation to vehicle registration, accidents were on a downward trend as apparent from the graph on page 53, and whilst those related to population, were greater as shown on the graph on page 54, the rate of increase showed encouraging signs of slowing down.
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