CHRISTMAS TRAFFIC

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31247, 20 December 1966, Page 25

CHRISTMAS TRAFFIC

Care Urged By Department

High speeds, following too close and risky overtaking are three of the major faults likely to contribute to motor accidents during the holiday period. The chief t raffle officer of the Transport Department in Christchurch (Mr E. Wilson) said yesterday that this had been the experience of past years.

Mr Wilson cautioned against attempting to drive too far in one day because of the danger of fatigue. He also suggested there should be as little driving as possible after break-up functions. “There is plenty of good public transport available,*’ he said. “Liquor and motor cars just don’t mix and, in any case, the penalties these days are so severe.”

He said motorists towing caravans or trailers should have mirrors adequate for them to see what traffic was following. They should show consideration for other road users who had a higher legal speed limit than themselves by keeping well to the left and occasionally pulling right over to allow following traffic to pass, if necessary. While overtaking and while crossing intersections were when most caution should be exercised.

“When crossing an intersection look, check again and think twice. Although the chief obligation is to traffic on the right, look to the left because there is still an obligation to avoid an accident.” Mr Wilson said that during the holiday period from December 23 to January 16 there would be 60 traffic officers on duty day and night between the Waitaki and Conway rivers. Considerable use would be made of micro-wave unitj and plain patrol cars. Drivers of unsafe vehicles would be served with a notice ordering the vehicles off the road immediately, he said.