FIRE-PLUG RINGS “MISLEADING”

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22895, 16 December 1939, Page 20

FIRE-PLUG RINGS “MISLEADING”

MAGISTRATE AGREES WITH COUNSEL NEED FOR CHANGE IK MARKING SEEN That the circles used to indicate firs* plugs to motorists are misleading was the contention of Mr R. Twyneharn. .who represented a motorist chargea with obstructing a fire-plug m tne Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The Magistrate, Mr E. C. LevweyS.M., agreed with Mr Twyneharn, an said that the circles must be altereo. Mr Twyneharn said that the regu* lation forbade parking within six tee of a plug, but that the circles, wfticn have a diameter of six feet radius of three feet, misled motoninto parking within three feet of Mr Twyneharn said that his on came from the Automobile Association. “The association considers » proper that publicity should be gi to the fact that the vellow ring which fire-plugs are indicated prescribe the distance within wci cars can be parked. The regulati is perfectly plain, but it is probaot. fair to say that 90 per cent, of motorcar users are under the impress that if. all parts of the car are clear of the yellow ring they are exernp from responsibility.” , v “I think they are being deliberates misled,” the Magistrate said, with laugh. . , “Admittedly the City Council done excellent work in marking tncs fire-plugs so conspicuously, but cO Ti not probably have foreseen that m clarity of the marking has _ obscure® the knowledge of the regulation itsc and the association thinks that m° users should be warned of the especially as I understand the Brigade authorities are pressing the observance of the letter of mregulation.” Mr Twyneharn continu-“-"The council itself may. it is hopeo; consider some means by which all users can be fully warned not of the existence of the fire plug nu the distance from which cars keep away from it. Possibly a circle with ■ 12-feet diameter nho meet the case.” Sub-Inspector W. E. Packer said tra no prosecution was being made uru some part of the car was actually side the ring. The Magistrate said that if the Fire Board was ing for strict observance of *he lation, then the circles must be moved at once or enlarged