GILBERTIAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 173, 23 July 1936, Page 10

GILBERTIAN.

TRAFFIC CONTROL.

NEW BILL PRAISED.

COSTLY ALTERATION.

humour of the road. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Characterising the present method of regulation of motor traffic Gilbcrtian- as far as the drivers of motor vehicles are j concerned, Mr. W. J. Lyon (Government, Waitemala), speaking 011 the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-day, said that the Minister of Transport (Mr. Semple) had made for clarity and understanding under his bill. As an alternative to what was being legislated for, the Minister had the alternative of constructing special roads for fast-moving one-way traffic as in Italy, or instituting "a by-pass system, but neither alternative could be put into operation in New Zealand, no matter how effective they were in other countries, as the Dominion had not the population to warrant the necessary expenditure. Mr. Lyon said that the proposals under the bill would make the highways safe for the people without retarding the rapid development of motor transport. The limitation to 30 miles an hour of the speed of motor vehicles travelling through built-up areas was a wise provision and pedestrians and others would speedily develop the road sense that that speed implied, and a large number of accidents would be

averted. Heavy, fast-travelling vehicles in the hands of incompetent drivers were a menace, as they became a projectile capable of doing as much damape as projectiles in war time. The Minister had laid it down that every section of users of the highways, including pedestrians, had their own separate responsibility. Co-ordination and understanding were necessary. When the bill became law it would not be possible for a dangerous driver to carry on for any length of time without facing a prosecution. Ho suggested that a highways code or descriptive brochure should be prepared in order that every member of the public should have a thorough grasp of traffic control. Mr. Lyon reminded the House of the humorous notices that were to be met with in different districts. A notice on the Clive Bridge in Hawke'a Bay limited speed to 10 miles an hour, but when the bridge was under repair a notice was put up limiting the speed to 15 miles an hour—five miles an hour faster than at a time when the bridge was safe. This showed the necessity for a uniform set of by-laws throughout the Dominion.