MOTOR HORNS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16847, 29 May 1920, Page 9

MOTOR HORNS.

TO TTTF. KDTTOR OF "TriS PRESS.*' Sir,—lf the tcne of "M torist's" Lorn is as unpleasant as the tone of his letter, the sooner ho gets another horn the better. His letter coujurcs up a vivid picture of a road-liog tearing down tho Dyer's Pass road, screeching round corners, and smothering all other users of the road with dust, whilo pedestrians jump asido and a violent death by inches. and terrified mothers hurry their children up tho bank or down tho hillside to avoid disaster. Then the motorist boasts that hi> went from the Rest House to tho foot in minutes, "and_ I'd have dono it in eight minutes easily if there hadn't been such a lot of women and kids all over tho road." For tho sako of the good name of the great mass of reasonable, law-abiding Canterbury motorists, I hope that tho road-hogs will soon either kill themselves off or bo permanently debarred from driving. To my mind there is nothing moro pleasant than to drive slowly down tho Dyer's Pass road at little more_ than walking pace, so that ono can enjoy to tho full, the wonderful view of hilt and plain, ocean and alps. One does not then raise any dust, and I iind that travelling thus, tho minimum uso of "'an old-fashioned low-toned horn" is sufficient to obtain a graciously-conced-ed right-of-way from pedestrians, ana one's "enjoyment is not marred by tho curses of tho people one passes. Let mo tell "Motorist" that it is just as annoying to motorists who uso tho road thus, as it is to pedestrians, to ho screechcd and hustled off tho road, and covered with dust. The remedy lies, not in attempting: to prohibit motorists from using the Dyer's Pass and similar roads, but in a rigidlv enforced speed limit, of, say, 12, or perhnns 15, miles per hour. Tho present limit of 10 miles per hour on tho Hackthorno road is ridiculous, and therefore a deadletter. It is no uso making vexatious remilntions that cannot bo carried out, with fines of a few pounds for infringement. What is needed for traffic regulation in general, is a reasonable and uniform set of by-laws, and the penalties for their infringement to bo suspension of drivers' certificates tor a shorter or longer period, with fines ranging up to £500. A few convictions at this rate would pay for a satisfactory svstem of traffic inspection and regulation, and would ensure obedience to the by-laws. With regard to Mr Hardcastlo's letter, ho is asking rather much if he expects us alwnvs to refnember to Bpenk of "the foothills of the Southern Aim" when we refer to the ranges generally 1 visible from the Port Hills. Moreover, i certain surveyors have statqd that, Mount Cook should bo visible from tho Port Hills, and ono i marvellously clear day two years ago, i from Cooper's Knob, witji the aid of a i pair of binoculars, I saw Mount Cook, i 1 may ray that it was pointed out to mo bv a man at least as well qualified as [ Mr Hard castle to say whether or not • the Southern Alps are visible from tho ; Port Hills.—Yours, etc., MOTORIST NO. 2.