STANDARDS OF DRIVING

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29239, 24 June 1960, Page 21

STANDARDS OF DRIVING

Safety Committee’s

Criticism

"There are too many motorists with only a minimum standard of driving skill who never try to improve their driving, which, if anything, tends to deteriorate,” said Mr H. G. R. Sedgley at a meeting of the Christchurch Metropolitan Road Safety Committee.

Mr Sedgley, who was reporting for a sub-committee which had investigated causes of road accidents, suggested a periodic check on drivers. At present a person could get a licence at the age of 20 and never have another test until over 70. “In Japan there is a test every five years,” said Miss M. McLean, chairman of the City Council traffic committee.

Other suggestions made by Mr Sedgley were the display of learner plates by new drivers and a special plate for drivers who had passed an advance test. The latter might appeal to a driver’s pride and vanity, he said. The use of more marking lines on main roads was also recommended by the sub-committee, Mr Sedgley said. A solid white line on the extreme edge of a road would make motorists keep to the left, which would allow for easier overtaking. Three-line highways, the centre line being for overtaking in either direction, would solve the problem of slow drivers, he sakL The meeting decided to have the sub-committee report circulated to all members to enable it to be studied before the next committee meeting so that decisions could then be made on the report.