MOTORISTS' FEARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 86, 12 April 1941, Page 8

MOTORISTS' FEARS.

SAFEGUARDS URGED.

THE RISK OF ACCIDENTS.

The belief that an extension will be made of the black-out to include motor vehicles has aroused a widespread fear of serious accidents in the minds ot many motorists in the city. 'J his viewwas universally voiced to-day by motorists who have experienced night driving in the present partial blackout. It seems, they say, that the official viewfavours a full blackout, which would entail vehicles travelling at night with lights so dimmed as to reduce the \isibility ahead to a matter of a few feet.

In such circumstances, having knowledge of what happened in Britain in the early days of the blackout there, they arc extremely apprehensive, and urge immediate action by local bodies to provide safety measures for pedestrians and motorists to a much greater extent than has been done to date.

One motorist pointed out that in both town and suburbs there are dangerous bends and blind corners that imperatively demand the use of white paint on poles, kerbs and even building-fronts to make night driving and walking safe. In fact, all kerbs should l>c coated with white paint, he said. Another motorist stre.-sed the necessity for the removal of such obstructions as traffic domes, and for the removal of distinctive night-mark'uiir of street "safetv zones.''

It was generally urged by all motorists with whom the matter wats discussed that the local authorities should take immediate steps to have these safety measures prepared, so that everything possible to provide against accident should be completed before the passing of the present full moon, which afford.a certain amount of protection for pedestrians and others at the moment. It was suggested by one motorist interviewed that use might be made at particularly dangerous corners of the pinpoint blue lights that motorists sometimes install on parked cars. So far as the white painting is concerned, he said, it_ was light work for which local bodies might find the labour to do quieklv. while there were also mechanical contrivances for expediting such work.

In common with the community generally, said the motorist, most of" us who ha\e to drive at night would appreciate candour on the part of the authorities. TVe would like to be given some concrete reasons for the necessity of blackingout. When our lives will' be endangered owing to the enormously increased hazards it it? only fair that we should lie given something more than the bah' statement that a strict blackout i* essential to the national safety.