Radar trap flashers aid danger — M.O.T.

Press, 14 June 1984, Page 14

Radar trap flashers aid danger — M.O.T.

PA Hamilton A Ministry of Transport official has warned drivers against continuing the widespread habit of headlightflashing.

The chief traffic superintendent, Mr lan Coddington, said publicity about the risks of warning dangerous drivers of radar traps might convince most to give up the habit.

“I would hope we are not forced into making any legislation to enforce it,” he said.

“I would hope that people start to think of the possibilities of danger they are creating by encouraging people to drive very, very

fast.” The Ministry had turned a blind eye to the habit in previous years as some Ministry officials thought the habit could be doing some good if it slowed motorists down.

But Mr Coddington said it was costing lives. “I think that, at the time, we were not particularly concerned, but it had not reached the epidemic proportions of today,” he said. Drivers could travel very fast safe in the knowledge they would be warned of radar traps. Mr Coddington said the flashing habit had reached the stage where nearly

every motorist was warned of radar traps by flashers.

He felt that most drivers probably had not considered the risks of helping dangerous drivers to speed without the risk of convictions.

They seemed to act out of a “camaraderie of drivers,” in the hope that the favour was returned, he said.

The flashing of lights had some real road safety advantages in other situations, as used to be the case on New Zealand roads before radar traps. The sign used to be a warning of danger or an accident ahead, which was a habit the Ministry encouraged, he said.