Caravan speed warning

Press, 29 December 1979, Page 1

Caravan speed warning

The Ministry of Transport is concerned about holidaying motorists, especially those towing caravans, travelling at excessive speed, says our Nelson reporter. Many motorists towing caravans north towards Nelson had been recorded by microwave exceeding 100 km/h, said Senior Traffic Sergeant A. S. Dando, of the Ministry’s Nelson office, yesterday. One motorist who had been stopped at 8.45 a.m. at Korere, about 45 minutes driving from Nelson, had admitted having left

Christchurch at 4.30 a.m. ‘•So many of these motorists take their caravans out only a few times a year, then drive at a speed at which the caravans fish-tail,” said Mr Dando. Someone would be killed round Nelson before the end of the holidays

unless motorists reduced their speed. Many motorists were travelling at high speed on the Maitai Valley road and Brook Street, both roads leading to motor camps. Motorists using the Aniseed Valley road were also travelling too fast. These

roads were narrow and winding and had many blind bends. There had already been one serious accident on the Maitai Valley road. A car failed to take a lefthand bend near the entrance of the Waahi Taakaro Golf Club on Thursday

evening and a passenger suffered facial injuries when he was catapulted through the windscreen. Mr Dando was unable to say what had caused the accident to the caravan pictured but he said the sight of such a fine caravan completely smashed

should make a few drivers I think. The caravan is a writeoff. It was bought only recently. The vehicle, valued about $6OOO, broke away from the towing car I at Motupfko on December 21 and turned over on the side of the road. The car was virtually undamaged. Mr Dando said all caravan and trailer owners should check to see if these vehicles were registered and had a current warrant of fitness. Many caravans on the road were unregistered and had no warrant of fitness.