ROAD CONDITIONS AND ACCIDENTS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22319, 5 February 1938, Page 16

ROAD CONDITIONS AND ACCIDENTS

* QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY RAISED The question of the responsibility of local bodies for the state of road surfaces which might be a conducive factor in accidents was raised at the meeting yesterday of the Ashburton County Council by Cr. J. Carr (Methven). The council was discussing the necessity for obstructions to roadusers’ views being removed when Cr. Carr raised the issue. “It is not so much on the main highways that there is a danger.” said Cr. Carr, “but on the less-frequented roads, where one is lulled into a false sense of security at curves and intersections. A recent accident in my district makes me think that the question of responsibility for the state of the road surface at intersections where accidents occur should also be considered.” He thought curves and intersections should be so built that they could be taken in comfort. At the particular corner he haj2 in mind, people had for years been cutting the corner, and the result was that anyone now taking it on his correct side of the road would have his car banked the wrong way. ■pie engineer should be instructed to do the necessary work to make such corners safe. The chairman (Cr. F. Frampton) said it would require a great deal from the engineer for that to be done all over the county. They should impress on ratepayers the necessity for always keeping to their correct side of the road, and the trouble would then not arise.