MOTORING IN ENGLAND

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21647, 4 December 1935, Page 12

MOTORING IN ENGLAND

LONDON DIFFICULTIES NEW ZEALAND DRIVER'S EXPERIENCES Some of a New Zealand motorist's impressions, of driving in London and in England were given in an interview yesterday by Mr Mark Armstrong, who has returned to Christchurch after a tour of Britain and America. He thought the establishment of "Belisha" beacons and the imposition of a speed limit in built-up areas would have a big effect in decreasing the number of accidents.

Driving a car in London, Mr Armstrong found fairly confusing. In making a right-hand turn a motorist had to drive to the centre of the road and stop with the nose of the car pointing in the new direction. When opportunity offered the driver joined the stream of traffic in the new direction, and while he was waiting straight-through traffic passed on his left. This was rather strange to a motorist accustomed to the New Zealand method of making right turns. On one occasion, Mr Armstrong attempted a turn by this method, but found it impossible and ultimately had to go straight on. Even in the busiest streets cars were permitted to cross to the wrong side of the road and pull up facing the wrong way. It was often necessary to wait some time for an opportunity to do this, but the wait for an opportunity to recross and join the traffic stream again was generally considerably longer.

Horse-drawn Vehicles , The authorities, said Mr Armstrong, were, considering traffic regulations with the greatest attention. It seemed inevitable that before long horse-drawn vehicles would not be permitted in busy areas. At present it was a common sight to see whole lines of traffic moving very slowly because of a horse-drawn vehicle. The bulk of the accidents on the roads consisted of injuries to pedestrians, and the Belisha beacons were designed to give greater safety to them. Mr Armstrong described the beacons as poles about seven feet high, on top of which are large orange painted globes. They are placed in pairs on the edge of the footpath, with a corresponding pair on the footpath opposite. When a pedestrian crossed between the beacons the onus was on the motorist to see that the pedestrian crossed safely. They were of great value to both motorists and pedestrians, because the pedestrian knew he could cross safely there, , and the motorist knew that at Belisha beacons he must drive slowly and if necessary stop. The beacons appeared to be working well. The speed limit of 30 miles an hour in built-up areas was also a great factor in the reduction of accidents. On the open road, there was no speed limit. Indeed the traffic authorities did not like dawdlers and encouraged cars to move quickly.

, Safety of Children The care taken to ensure the safety of school children in busy areas round London greatly impressed Mr Armstrong. At lunch time and when school was over for the day there was always a policeman ready to halt the traffic for the children to cross the road safely. The children had the right attitude to the public and regarded them as firm friends. It was common to see a crowd of children rush to a policeman and hold on to his hands and coat tails while crossing the street, an action which seemed to please both the children and the policeman. i ' To a New Zealander, the English roads appeared to be nearly perfect, but the authorities were planning to make them even better. The construction of by-passes round busy centres not only avoided delays but minimised the risk of accidents in the centres. It was necessary, said Mr Armstrong, to tour rural England to appreciate why Englishmen loved England so much. The trees had a grace and beauty not found in other countries, and the undu- [ lating roads made a tour of the country a succession of beautiful vistas.