CORRESPONDENCE. THE RULE OF THE ROAD.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24, 30 January 1911, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE. THE RULE OF THE ROAD.

TO THE EDITOE. Sir, — In these days of motors and bicycles, and congested traffic, it is quite time some alterations took place in th*< ordinary rule of the road, namely, that vehicles meeting must pass oach other to the left, or rather, right hand to right hand. The rigid carrying out of this rule is quite dangerous in certain localities, and especially on roads known as hillside roads. Take, for instance, tho road going over to the Wainui Valley. A motor-car going up the hill; according to present rule, should be on the inside ot the road, that is, next the bank of the -hill ; but it cannot turn a corner, without swinging out; to the opposite side of the road, the pouter, or wrong side. At the very corner it may mcc* a horse vehicle coming down the hill on the outer side, which is its proper side at present. The car has to turn to the left, and, not having attained, perhaps, tne suitable angle- to turn, extra power may have to be put on, and, banging and scraping, it lias to claw its way, past the horses' noses to get round the corner. No wonder many horses aro startled, and endeavour to plunge over the side of the hill, in spite of the protecting fence. When motor-car meets motor-car at a corner, it, is the up-going car that has to move to clear the way, and the downgoing car must be prepared at a. moment's notice to stop, to avoid collision, and its brakes may not be equal to the emergency. Now, if the rule -was, that the down-going vehicle kept the inside of the road, and the up-going kept the outside, the difficulties would, to a great extent, be avoided. For instance, in the latter case— two motorcars meeting at a corner— it would be easy tor the down-going car to slip past inside, to the bank, and neither car would need to stop its course. In the case of the down-going car meeting a horse vehicle, which, under this plan, would be on the outside of the road, the car could pass inside almost noselessly ; and, in any case, a frightened horse could not do so much damage when it was plunging against the incline of, the road In the same way. the horse vehicle would also ,be safer on the inside coming down the' hill, and would nob get in the way of the cars going up. It is suggested, therefore, that a muchneeded amendment to our present rule should be— that on hillsides a vehicle going up should keep the" outer, side, > and, coming down, the inner side, of ■ roads. This is a matter that might well : be discussed at the next meeting of the Automobile Association, if there is suds a body in this country.— l am, etc., C. W. TANNER. Wellington, 26th January.