A Roundabout Query

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29829, 23 May 1962, Page 7

A Roundabout Query

Sir.—l was amazed when I read Mr Hogan’s reply to a query from Mr John Lord. The traffic authorities are continually advising motorists to keep left and so avoid these tragic head-on collisions, yet we have the district officer of the Transport Department telling us that it is legal to drive on the incorrect side of the road. Taken to its extremity a motorist proceeding west via Riccarton avenue and wishing to turn right at the Deans avenue roundabout should be within his legal rights if he shortcircuited the roundabout and drove through against south or east-bound traffic Would Mr Hogan agree with me in assuming that traffic from Epsom road, bound for Hornby, could cut across east-bound traffic and proceed without fear of prosecution? The movement would be the same as recommended, but just as stupid.—Yours, etc, R. W. SMITH. May 15, 1962. [The district officer of the Transport Department (Mr D.

L. Hogan) said: “In my reply to Mr Lord I did not advocate driving on the wrong side of the road. The traffic island in Springs road creates two separate roadways and there is nothing illegal in two-way traffic on the roadway on the south side, for which channelisation was designed. The system of islands at Motorways corner is not a roundabout. I do not agree that a driver may legally go the wrong way in a roundabout contrary to its design and against the flow of traffic.’’]