RESTRICTION ON CAR LIGHTS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23360, 20 June 1941, Page 6

RESTRICTION ON CAR LIGHTS

NEW REGULATIONS

DISCUSSED

QUESTIONS RAISED BY

MOTORISTS

“There will be a big increase in accidents: we shall need another morgue, was the comment of Mr F. W. Freeman, when the new motor lighting restrictions were being discussed by the Canterbury Automobile Association last evening. Mr Freeman considered that the stipulated speed of 20 miles an hour when driving in areas where parking lights only were allowed was too fast. , ‘ Mr Freeman asked whether the council of the association had expressed its opinion whether the restrictions on motor-car lighting were being imposed too soon.. There would be a large number of accidents, and cyclists would suffer. Any . motorist who dipped his lights , in side street in Christchurch realised how difficult it was to see eyejists. That was with two headlights. With the one beadlight and parking lights, as proposed, and the one headlight on the .side away from the cyclist, it would be more difficult than ever. - The association, he considered, migm suggest to the Minister for Transport that the regulations be reconsidered in the light of the increase in safety hazard, and possibly be submitted to the Safety Council. “It is a question whether these restrictions are as urgent in the bacK streets of Christchurch as for roads on the seaboard,” said Mr Freeman. It seems that money, is no .object m putting up the warning signs We have to put them up in every street And how will motorists, with car lights restricted be able to see the signs warning them of the nature of the restrictions in each area?” ... r In reply to a question by Mr G. Morris about the date of the application of the restrictions to the Christchurch area, it was stated that tne Gazette notice was to have been issued last week, but would now probably appear in this weeks Gazette. The regulations applied when the notices were put up. wa s Mr G. Tencn said the public was not taking much notice of posed restrictions. Very few motor ists were having their cars fixed up to comply with the regulations. They would probably ail want them fixed in a hurry. The only solution to the problem of seeing cychsts with the restricted lights seemed to be the in stallation of fog lamps to every car. But there would not be enough fog considered that suggestions made in a letter by Mr T. Holsey, that railway crossing keepers should have a lamp as well as the usual warning board and that soldiers on pomt duty should wear some hght-coloyrea marking to make them, more readily viable especially, on wet nights, were worth’special consideration, in view ° f lt th wa n s e decMed a to° n hring the points raised to the notice of the Commissioner of Transport (Mr G. L. La ur m> son) when he meets membersof the council of the association to-day.