Issues in local area traffic management. Paper published in `Microcomputers for local government planning and management', edited by P.W. Newton and M.A.P. Taylor, Melbourne, 1986.

Starting from a brief discussion on the evolution of responses to traffic problems at the local level, and the consequent demands that they placed on local authorities, this paper stresses the need to look at neighbourhoods as systems. A systematic planning approach, rather than one based on isolated infrastructure changes, is advocated. The various needs that follow highlight the shortcomings that exist in technical capability. Some possible applications of microcomputers to meet these needs are briefly noted. These include inventory and management systems, traffic monitoring, analysis of traffic generation, testing system effects, analysis of road user behaviour in particular situations, particular situations, setting up a decision framework, and information databases. (A)