Right-Hand Turn Clarification

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32234, 28 February 1970, Page 16

Right-Hand Turn Clarification

Rules on right-hand turns should be clarified and motorists should signal all turns, the Christchurch Metropolitan Road Safety Committee agreed at its monthly meeting this week. These will be the subject of remits to be discussed at the national convention of road safety committees which will begin in Greymouth on March 28.

Several members of the: committee felt that there wasa need for a uniform system regarding the position of ai motorist on the road before, he began a right-hand turn.' The present rules required a motorist to move to the middle of the road in a SO-; mile-an-hour area before i making the turn, while if he I was on the open road and the' way was not clear he was required to move to the left, stop and make the turn when the way became clear. The District Officer Of the: Ministry of Transport (Mr D.. L. Hogan) said that it *eemed that most metropolitan road safety committees favoured | the move to the middle of. the road, while comnutteesj. in urban and rural areas ii favoured the move to the i left The danger of a car stop- i ping in the middle of the j open road was that cars ■ behind would overtake on the outside of the stationary i vehicle and risk a collision i with an oncoming vehicle, ■; Mr Hogan said, however, ji that he had seen motorists' i stopped in the middle of the. open road when making all .right-hand turn -and he i doubted if the risk was as. great as it was thought-tp be. ■ 1 Mr J. R. Mating, who repre-p sents the Automobile Asso-H . ciation (Canterbury) oa the I committee, -said that it was ridiculous that the traffic , regulations did not insist on ; motorists signalling when i taming to the left. Many

metorists became frustrated .when other motorists failed ;to signal a left turn and .because of this it was acci.dent .promoting. ‘‘You can’t blame the ■ motorist, however, because hei has never been told to do ; this,” he said. “It is only ■ the conscientious ones who. work this out for themselves: 'that do it.” Senior Trtffic Officer 1. W. McLachlan, of the Ministry lof Transport, said that the .necessity for signals for all ! turns was becoming more; and more important, especially with the increase in lane' | driving. . The compulsory fitting of .flashing indicators on all (Cars, one warrant of fitness : notice only on each car and more white lines on the left'hand side of the road were other recommendations suggested as remits to the convention. It was decided to defer discussion on a recommendation to lower the present ; percentage of 100 milligrams :of alcohol per 100 millilitres lof blood, until after the Minister of Transport (Mr Gordon) had finished reconsidering the matter. The committee agreed that the two delegates to the con- ; vention, Mr R. K. Reddy {(School Committees' Associaition) and Mr F. R. Longley (Rieearton Borough Council) discuss the recommendations as possible remits and draw up any other remits they think suitable.