PLANTING BY ROADSIDE

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29798, 14 April 1962, Page 10

PLANTING BY ROADSIDE

Help Against Accidents

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU. April 12. Roadside amenity planting was a public responsibility, the superintendent of reserves (Mr R. S. Scott) told the sixth annual conference of the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association at the Bay Tea Rooms last evening In America, extensive experiments had proved that light-coloured trees, such as the silver birch planted on the outer bends of roads, had greatly reduced accidents, while on especially bad corners dense rows of shrubs were more effective than the conventional guard rails. Test cars had repeatedly been smashed into thick multiflora hedges at 30 miles an hour and had stopped within their own length without damage, while at 50 miles an hour cars were brought to a gentle stop. He strongly recommended tha: an advisory officer of the Farm Forestry Association be available to give advice to the National Roads Board and to various local bodies on tree-planting. paying particular attention to the beautification of areas and the road safety angle. Mr Scott added that largeleaved trees, or trees having rapid leaf fall should be kep' clear of all bends or corners as accumulation of wet fallen leaves could cause cars to skid under certain conditions.