HILL TRAFFIC

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21436, 30 March 1935, Page 23

HILL TRAFFIC

| ASSISTANCE ON DANGEROUS ! ROADS SOUGHT 1 i (SPECIAL TO THE PRI3S.J OAMARU, March 29. To assist traffic on dangerous hill ;oads a remit, forwarded by the Nelson Automobile Association, urging the South Island Motor Union to adopt some convention, preferably that observed generally in the North Island and in parts of the South Island, was considered by the half-yearly conference of delegates at Oamaru to-day. A letter was also received from the Commissioner ci Transport on + he same subject. Dr. S. A. Gibbs (Nelson) sairi that he took exception to the statement of tlie commissioner that, as the result of a remark alleged to have been made by a magistrate, signs requesting that downhill traffic give way to uphill traffic should be removed. the commissioner commenting that on strictly legal grounds this remark was correct, as any signs relating to motor traffic other than those described under regulation 16 were ili ego 1. It was absurd to say they should not have a convention, which had. been generally observed. He maintained thai the only convention possible was for downhill traffic to give way to ascending traffic. He held that the word "please" on a sign indicated that it was not mandatory, but merely h request. It. was absolutely necessary to a convention, and even if it were not the best, it would be better to have a convention universally recognised than a better convention observed in one place and not in another. If they refused to accept some convention they would be adding to the danger to motorists on hilly roads. He therefore moved that the union should adopt the convention already existing in the North Island—that descending traffic be requested to give way to ascending traffic. The motion was seconded by the Marlborough delegate. The president (Mr F. W. Johnston) read the regulations, and held that the signs on hills erected by the Nelson Association were legal as classified as courtesy signs.

"A Convention Useless" Mi- E. J. Anderson (Otago) disagreed with the president's contention, and maintained that the signs in question were traffic signs. He thought it was useless for the union to adopt a convention, and considered it would be wiser to adopt a recommendation to associations that, where the circumstances required it, the local authority be asked to permit the erection of thc.se signs embodying the suggestion that either descending or ascending traffic give way, and in the event of severe grades the local authority _be asked to make a by-law controlling the trpfßc. Mr R. Twyneham (Canterbury) said there was a distinct danger if the union adopted a convention, as the motoring public would recognise a convention as a law, y/hen it was not a law at all. He thought it would be belter 1o leave it to the discretion of the drivers. Mr \V. R. Carey ('Canterbury) mainUiinod lhnt opinion in both islajids on the subject was divided, and it would be better to leave it to the individual reouircments. Dr. S. Brown (.Southland) maintained that the only safe principle was that inside traffic should give way to outside traffic. He moved a further amendment on these lines, and stated that such a convention should be universal and courtesy, signs should be eroded accordingly. The Rev. J. Hay (Waimate) said that if a local association erected a sign on a hill it was because it was or the opinion that it was in the interests of the travelling public. No particular convention about hill traffic could be adopted without taking into consideration the particular condition of the individual hill. If the local associations did that, it would be m Iho best interests and safety of the traffic.

The president urged that whatever they adopted it should be universal, and he favoured a convention'that inside traffic give way to outside. Mr W. O. Callaghan (North Island Motor Union) said the convention of descending traffic giving way to ascending had been observed in the North Island for 20 years, and whatever they adopted they should make it universal.

The amendment was carried by 14 votes to 10. Dr. Brown's further amendment, that' inside traffic give way to outside, was carried by 11 votes to 10.

A further amendment was carried unanimously that, before action be taken, enquiries be made from the North Island Union whether the North Island would agree to substitute inside traffic giving way to outside for descending traffic giving way to ascending.