CANTERBURY TRAFFIC

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30107, 16 April 1963, Page 10

CANTERBURY TRAFFIC

Few, Minor Accidents Traffic on the main highways in Canterbury was not generally as heavy this Easter as it was last year, and yesterday’s wet weather caused many motorists to return home earlier than usual Road behaviour was good, and no major accidents were reported. On the Main North road the peak of traffic flow was over by 6 p.m., about an hour and a half earlier than the peak last year. Traffic was heavy between 4 p.m and 5 p.m. but no delays at any point were reported. Yesterday’s traffic was the heaviest of the Easter period. Only one accident was reported during the day—a car which overturned on a bend near Pinehaven, no-one being injured. The main fault was in following too closely. On the Main West road, the traffic was reported as being constant but not really heavy, and well behaved. On the Akaroa highway traffic was light and became extremely light by 6 p.m.

Traffic to and from Cust. where motor-cycle racing was held, was not very heavy There was no congestion on the main traffic bridge across the Waimakariri river.

Transport Department officers at Kaikoura reported that traffic on the main highway travelled too fas’ during the first three days of the holiday Traffic of holidaymakers in the district was generally good., although a Transport Department officer had to chase a motorist at more than 50 miles an hour through parts of the residential area on Saturday night. Two minor accidents occurred, one driver suffering minor face injuries. In Ashburton traffic towards Christchurch was generaly well-behaved, but local traffic officers reported 52 offences during the weekend. most of them involving speeding. Two minor accidents occurred, the first when a car ran off the road near the Ashburton racecourse on Saturday and the second when cars collided at Chertsey yesterday afternoon Numerous mechanical breakdowns occupied the local Automobile Association patrol officer during the week-end. but generally demands on Automobile Association patrolmen were very light.