SAFETY ON PETONE AND HUTT ROADS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 92, 12 January 1939, Page 5

SAFETY ON PETONE AND HUTT ROADS

Only Four Minor Accidents During Holidays

Lower Hutt ami Petone have no roadsafety pennant to indicate their treeHorn or otherwise from fatal accidents despite the heavy volume of traffic tn:u uses their roads its outlets to other pans anti as inlets to Wellington city. Inquiries showed that there was an absolute freedom from any serious accidents in these boroughs during the holidays. Inspector A. J. Archer, joint traffic in spector for the two boroughs, was on constant patrol on the eve of the main holidays, when the greatest volume ol tramc was on the roads, from 8 a.m. to midnight. . , 'fhe only accidents recorded during the holidays were two minor motor collisions and two mishaps to cyclists. One of the motor accidents was caused through bees settling on the driver of a car. lite driving of motorists who passed through the two boroughs during the holidays was steady. In all only live persons arc to be charged with breaches during this period; these offences are for speeding, failing tv give way, and failing to signal intention to pull out from a kerb. The average of offences during the holidays was one in two days. , 98 New Drivers. A feature of the holidays was the large number of applicants for driving licences. In Lower Hutt, which had 69 applicants in December, 33 tests were made in three days of the Christmas week, and in Petone. which had 33 applications in December. .18 tests were given in three days of the Christmas week. Each test occupies 20 minutes. There were three failures in the 69 Lower Hutt applicants and one in Petone’s 33. There were few women applicants. Both tests are fairly severe and are or themselves proof against the impression that licences are easier to obtain outside of cities. Lower Hqtt applicants are taken down Railway Avenue from High Street, making a right-hand turn along to Normandale crossing. They next go up the Normandale hill, with a stop and start half-way up. Afterward they are tested at turning in side streets and emergency braking and given an oral test of their knowledge of the regulations. The Petone test is similar except that Kqj-o Koro lull is used instead of Normandale. The Lower Hutt test is varied on occasions to take in the Jlelling bridge and one of the hill roads leading up from the Western Hutt Road at Belmout. The Waintii-o-mata hill is considered too easy for tests and for this reason, as well as because many drivers learn their hill work on it, it is not used. One applicant for a driving licence when taken up the Normandale hill mildly protested, "But I learnt on the Wainu.i hill.” This applicant managed Normandale all right, however.