ROUNDING THE CORNERS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 119, 15 November 1929, Page 10

ROUNDING THE CORNERS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Regarding the letter published iii last Friday evening's "Post" warning motorists of the dangerous nature of the road surface at the corner ef Balena Bay. I happen to be an old resident of Balena i? y> °ecuPyinS a house overlooking the alleged dangerous corner described by your correspondent, and, speaking as a motor engineer with extensive driving experience p£ all classes of motor vehicles, I can honestly state -that although I negotiate the corner in question daily, I have never yet experienced any anxiety when negotiating this bend, irrespective of the condition of the bitumen surface. I can certainly not substantiate your correspondent s statement that all or nearly alf cars slide round this corner when the road surface is wet, but the statement that the jouths of the neighbourhood were lined up in anticipation of impromptu broadsides is an exaggeration. There, is always a certain class of motor-cyclist who will persist in attempting to negotiate a sharp corner with a wet bitumen road surface with their machines at an angle of 45 degrees, and then wonder why they crash. In view of the fact that approximately 9o per cent, of the motor-cyclists in Wellington are conversant with the bend in question, and the limit of speed at which it can be safely negotiated, and taking into consideration that the only type of motor-cyclist or car driver- who gets into difficulties at this corner is in practically every instance the irresponsible and reckless individual, I entirely fail to understand the anguish and dread experienced by your correspondent when hearing the approach of a motor-cyclist. Surely the weliare of the women and children who use the above section of the roadway, and who frequently have narrow escapes ffoni being run down by the class of motorcyclist about whom your correspondent is so anxious, should be his first consideration.

In my opinion the installation of a red light at the corner as a warning signal is unnecessary to the average motorist who drives with reasonable care, and such a warning would be entirely ignored by the type of driver whom your correspondent is so anxious to safeguard. In view of the fact that excessive speed on the corner is in practically every instance, the sole cause of the trouble, and that the chief offenders are those who are fully conversant with the bend, I consider "that 'the most efficient remedy is the installation of a large net at-the outer edge of the roadway to catch the 45-degrees speed merchants, and the presence of a traffic inspector to collect the necessary details in regard to the offenders. Sir, I venture to suggest that every reasonably-minded motorist will endorse the above.—l am, etc.,

ONE WHO HAS NOT COME OFF,