TRAFFIC ON HILLS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 138, 8 December 1931, Page 8

TRAFFIC ON HILLS

WHO SHOULD GIVE WAY>]

Tnstead of as at present down-hill traffic giving way to up-hill traffic, Mr. A. J. Toogood, at last night's meeting of the executive of the Wellington Automobile Club, recommended that the practice should be reversed co that up-hill traffic would give way to downcoming traffic. The proposition,, how* ever, failed to find a seconder and-,laps« ed

Mr. Toogood. contended..that. conditions had changed , considerably.,:siric<l the present practice was introduced* The horse-power of motor-vehicles ;,waa greater, the roads were, better; braking ■efficiency had been'-increased, and drivers were more efficient.'. Mr. Toogood .also claimed-that a motorist going up-hill had far more control of his car than a motorist coming down. A mbtor» ist, going up-hilf could stop his-carnal-most instantly, whereas a man coming down v. steep grade .had everything against him.. •-.-■■ ; .■..-:-; ,^.- ■■ i Mi/. A. J. Paterson said-he .'thought that rthe present practice made for economy in driving, and less chance at road blockage. - • • ; Mr. J.,J. Curtis said he thought th« practice in vogue much safer than :sug« gested by Mr. Toogood, especially ia the case of heavy lorries. :' •

Mr. E. Palliscr also spoke against Mr. Tooguod'b proposition. He recalled an accident on the Packakariki hill, fiv^ years ago when a V timid-" lady, seeing a big car coming down the hill, pulled'into the side-of the road and stopped, and in endeavouring to start off again up the incline lost her head with the result that the car ran backwards and capsized. • The motion "lapsedl for want of • seconder.