RULE FOR TRAFFIC.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 34, 19 November 1938, Page 5

RULE FOR TRAFFIC.

IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING TO THE LEFT. Concern with reports received from patrols regarding the extent to which traffic generally is. driving on the centre of roadways, thus failing to acknowledge the most elementary and most important, rule of the, road, that of “keep to the left,” was expressed in a report the executive of the Automobile Association (Wellington), received from its roads committee.

The reports showed that the tendency to drive in the centre of the road did not apply to country roads only, but to city, streets as well, stated the report. So far as country roads were concerned failure to keep to the left formed a distinct danger and was known to l)o the cause of many accidents, while in city streets not only did the risk of accident exist, but a large amount of available city street width was wasted, and in addition a great amount of undue congestion was caused. With traffic again increasing the committee appealed to motorists generally to observe more strictly the first rule of the road with a view to eliminating the great danger of accidents, and also with a. view to making greater use of available street widths. The committee stated that it had before it a circular letter from the Main Highways Board advising that provision was to be made for placing double centre lines on portions of roads considered to be particularly dangerous. The circular stated that the Safety Council had adopted a recommendation of one of its sub-committees in iavour of such double lines as being in the nature of an added safeguard. It was not proposed to introduce a regulation in, regard to the placing of Rouble centre lines in the meantime, but as the lines were placed, it was desired that 'motorists would understand that where they hat? been put down it was not permissible to > overtake another vehicle.