RIGHT OF THE ROAD

Evening Post, Volume 97, Issue 97, 21 October 1933, Page 12

RIGHT OF THE ROAD

SPEEDING FIRE ENGINES

MOTORISTS' DISCUSSION

(Special to the "Evening Post.") PALMERSTON N., This Day. The question of the rights of fire engines • speeding to answer a call was discussed by the executive of the Manawatu Automobile Association at its meeting last evening, when particular reference was made to the case of a member of the association who recently had his vehicle damaged by a fire engine at a street intersection. The general feeling was that, although privilege was demanded by the urgency of the case, civilian motorists should be accorded some adequate protection. Mr. H, E. Edmunds, who raised the question, said' the vehicle had been drawn up two feet from the kerb and had yet been hit. As far as he knew tho new regulations provided that the fire engine had the absolute right of the road. It could cross from side to, side, "jump poached eggs," and, in fact, do anything it liked on the. road. If such things were allowed to go on then the law which permitted them was one of the most shocking on the Statute Book. Mr. J. Hodgens said that tho superintendent had given an assurance-' to the Fire Board that the engine had maintained its position on the correct side of the road. Mr. Edmunds affirmed that the marks at the corner would disprove this utterly. i Tho chairman (Mr. N. H. Mackie) said that the North Island Motor Union executive had already discussed the matter,* and he understood that the Transport Department would be asked to give it earnest attention.. The committee, while realising that it waa not desirable to place any untoward restrictions on fire engines speeding to fires, felt that circumstances required some sort of control for the sake of public security. Mr. Edmunds said it would never do to give the fire engines the unrestricted passage through tho streets that was enjoyed by the police patrols in Sydney. ■• After further discussion tho association decided to see what.was the position obtaining in Australia before it took further action. ■*