PARKING CLOSE TO CORNERS

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21033, 8 December 1933, Page 6

PARKING CLOSE TO CORNERS

A DANGEROUS PRACTICE AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION'S ADVICE "The practice of leaving motorvehicles close to corners is one of the most thoughtless and dangerous that lies against city, and not a few country motorists," says the latest safety first message issued by the Canterbury Automobile Association. '•The fact that there is a Christchurch City Council by-law prohibiting motorists from leaving vehicles within 20 feet of the building line on a corner is either not known to scores of motorists or it is ignored by them. No matter in what category a driver may be the practice is highly dangerous, and so obviously against the rules of safe conduct on the roads Jiat it is strange that the habit is persisted in. In several thoroughfares the council has set down lines on the roadway to guide the owners of vehicles, but many drivers over-run the mark. "The drivers of delivery vans and other trade vehicles arc common offenders. They halt their vehicles at tinier right across a corner. The Canterbury Automobile Association and other bodies have striven for years, and are still doing so—in having corners marked by high fences and trees attended to. yet motorists themselves, in busy thoroughfares, leave their vehicles close to corners where they become an obstruction to the view of other drivers. Even if vehicles so left are close in and parallel to a kerbing they are a big enough danger, but so many drivers accentuate the trouble by leaving their vehicles far out from the kerbing. "If all motorists would give thought to small details such as that under notice there would be greater traffic safety and fewer complaints of discourtesy. There is a strong note of selfishness in the action of drivers who park a car in any old position without showing consideration for the other fellow."

; I SPILT PETROL DANGER A warning issued in England by the | Automobile Association deals with the i danger from spilt petrol. The warning : runs: ' "Carelessness in overfilling the petrol tank of a car Is the cause of a number of outbreaks of fire every year, and the Automobile Association impresses upon motorists the need for caution when refuelling. The danger is present principally in the case of those cars which have the petrol filler cap near the engine; if petrol is spilled over the engine there is always the risk that it may be ignited by a stray spark from a short circuit when the engine is started. "In the case of cars with rear petrol tanks the principal source of danger is a spark or flame from the exhaust, which may ignite spilt petrol. It is thus imperative, to ensure safety when filling up, first to stop the engine before the filler cap is unscrewed, and secondly to guard against the spilling of petrol. A spark from the exhaust may easily ignite a pool of petrol on the ground, and before the car moves away the tank may be on fire externally." In this connexion there is a further danger from over-filling the tank to the fullest limit of capacity, especially where the fuel supply is carried in front, because of the danger of road vibration or road camber causing , petrol to squirt out - through the air I vent in the filler cap.