Campaign For Safety At Intersections

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31439, 4 August 1967, Page 6

Campaign For Safety At Intersections

A national campaign for better driving at intersections is being held this month by the Transport Department, with local transport authorities.

"We will be concentrating just about all our observations between August 14 and 20," said the Chief Traffic Officer, E. E. Dunlop, of the Transport Department.

“The type of driving breaches for which we will be on the look-out include failing to give way and failing to stpp at signs, not observing traffic lights and signals, approaching too fast and parking too close to the corner.

"Twenty-one per cent of road deaths last year occurred as a result of accidents at intersections; 31 per cent of all accidents tost year occurred at intersections.”

The department appealed to drivers to take more care at intersections.

"Most of the intersection accidents are between two or more ears (3018 of this type were recorded last year), although there are many accidents between cars and cyclists and cars and pedestrians,” Mr Dunlop said. Sergeant H. P. Barker, of the City Council’s traffic department, said there were 2095 intersections in the city and more than 3000 in greater Christchurch. “One of the main problems in Christchurch is the fivechain grid street pattern on which the streets are constructed. This gives a predominance of right-angled intersections within the city, perhaps more so than anywhere else in New Zealand. "The traffic department will also be keeping a close watch on intersections during this time and will be issuing offence notices for breaches of the tow.” he said.