Better driving

Press, 14 October 1986, Page 12

Better driving

Sir, —During a long career in the service of the A.A., I formed the definite opinion that speed, in itself, was not necessarily dangerous. It was speed which was “too fast for the conditions,” as stated by Deputy Chief Traffic Superintendent Henry . Gow (October 13), which created a hazard. Emotions stirred by emphasis on speed alone could have the undesirable effect of increasing pressure for a reduction in the very logical, open-road speed limit of lOOkm/h. Statistics have invariably shown that most injury accidents on the road occur in urban areas. Effective policing of driving behaviour at intersections controlled by regulatory signs or traffic signals would make a major contribution towards reducing Christchurch’s horrendous road traffic accident record. Most Christchurch drivers appear oblivious of the fact that an amber signal means “stop,” unless it is unsafe to do so, and that, at law, it is not simply a warning of a red signal to follow. — Yours, etc., E. S. PALLISER. October 13, 1986.