ROAD ACCIDENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 191, 15 August 1939, Page 11

ROAD ACCIDENT.

RACING CYCLISTS.

INSPECTORS ON DUTY.

CO-OPERATION «OF CLUBS

Reference to the collision tlurinp tho cycle road race near Orewa on Sutiir-

day, when five cyclists were injured. '.v;ixi made tin-; morning Tjy liie chief transport officer for tlie Auckland district. Mr. .1. K. Ainsworth, who drew attention to tlie precautions taken Wy hi* department and also by officials of •ycliiiL' dubs to prevent accidents duriii™ the progress of road events. "fu view of road cyclists !ieinjj prone to accidents, the Transport Department has drawn up a set of rules and rejrnla lions for tlie fruidanee of clubs in the conduct of road cycle races," said M* Ainsworth. '"This has had the ell'ect of minimising accidents and the fri\in;r of due notice to motorists using the rciaiH durinjr the eoiirso of races. It is the practise of secretaries of cycling clubs first to obtain permission from the chief traffic inspector of the area in which a race is to he held to actually hold the race. Triillic inspectors are then pla'cd on duty to assist tho racing cyclists, discipline them if necessary, and to advise motori.-ts jirenerally of the con ditions prevailing on the roads while

the race is in progress. On Saturday the usual permission was pi von for the staging of the race by the Transport .Department, and two traffic inspectors were on duty patrolling the roads amongst the eyciists. "Since this method has been adopted motorists generally have boon very appreciative in their remarks regarding the conduct of the competitors. Clubs and their riders have assisted the department in every way.- and this has proved to the mutual advantage of all parties concerned. "In short," added Mr. Ainsworth, "road cycle laces in the areas controlled by the Transport Department are supervised, and e\ery ell'ort is made to protect the cyclists and motorists alike and prevent accidents occurring while races are in progress."