‘Speed Main Cause’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30822, 6 August 1965, Page 3

‘Speed Main Cause’

(Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, August 5. Speed was the main cause of accidents on the Main South road at Bankside, and traffic engineering would not necessarily improve the record of this stretch of highway. This was stated in Parliament today when Mr M. A. Connelly (Opp., Riccarton) asked the Minister of Works (Mr Allen), who is also chairman of the National Roads Board, to look into the need for improving traffic engineering and the road surface, and to remove the shading which caused the road to ice in winter. Mr Alien said the trees which were shading the State

highway at Bankside and causing an ice hazard had been removed about five years ago. “Since then there has been very little trouble, and the Transport Department has recorded two only injury accidents because of icing in the last four years,” said Mr Allen. ■ “The Selwyn Plantation Board has recently begun felling other trees which were beginning to cause further shading. “The over-all accident figure for this area has not been high and speed is believed to be the main accident cause. To the north and the south of Bankside the State highway is flat and straight, and there is a tendency to travel too fast. “It is intended to improve the alignment of the highway at Bankside, and tentative provision has been made to undertake the work in 1966-67. “Circumstances do not

justify a priority over more urgent works in the current highways programme,” Mr Allien said.