BETTER CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1936, Page 10

BETTER CONTROL

NEW TRAFFIC RULES VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS DRAFT PROPOSALS The draft of the 1936 Traffic Regulations has new been issued by the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, through the Transport Department. The regulations proposed cover a much >wider field than previous regulations for they relate directly to all types of vehicles and also to pedestrians, and in the latter regard are much more definite than previous rules. However, as now brought down they are merely in draft form and have yet to be submitted to the re-cently-established Safety Council, . to authorities concerned in traffic control, and others competent to express valuable opinion. In their

final form they may be amended in some respects, but, as the

Minister has made plain, ihe 1936 regulations will lead to a tightening up in many direction i. The first pages of the draft are taken up with definitions, questions of administration, and matters common to all traffic. Several of the definitions have been amended, but'these are details which are probably more the concern of Courts' and lawyers, for man}; are the fines that depend upon interpretations. A traffic inspector appointed by the Minister or the MahvHighways Board or a police, officer shall be entitled to exercise the powers conferred on him upon any road, says the draft, and such an officer may, in writing, require any vehicle which does not comply with the regulations to be taken off the roads, or may order that such a vehicle may be restricted to certain speeds or routes. The notice, moreover, »may require the owner to surrender the registration plates, which will not be returned to him until the vehicle is made to comply with the provisions of the regulations. Similarly, officers are to have the right to forbid any person to drive a vehicle if, by reason of his physical or mental condition, howsoever arising, he is incapable for the time being of driving. • LIGHTS AND BRAKES.

'The former regulations regarding lights and brakes are in the main repeated. The main requirement as to headlights is that they shair be of sufficient power to enable substantial objects and the nature of the road surface to be clearly visible uhder,normal circumstances at a distance of at least 150 feet. Not more than two spotlights may be carried, and such.lights may be moved only for purposes ior which the driving lights are not suitable and must then be, used in a reasonable manner so as not to interfere with the vision of others on; the road. Any lights other than those required by the clauses regarding driving , and tail lights are to be covered with frosted glass or other material to diffuse the light. v / . A new clause states: — '

"Where'the lighting from some other artificial source than the headlights is sufficient to render clearly visible _ a pedestrian or similar substantial"object at a distance of 150 feet the driver of any motor vehicle may dim the headlights or may use sidelights in substitution for headlights." Lights nled not be displayed while a vehicle is stationary provided that the street lighting-is such that it is clearly visible from a distance of 150 feet. : '" '•' ■. ' The braking standard set out is that the foot brake shall be capable of bringing the vehicle to a stop upon a hard dry, and level' roadway within 40 feet from a speed of 20 m.p.h. without the assistance of engine compression, and that the hand brake will bring the machine to a, stop within 75 feet and will hold the vehicle on a grade of one- in five.:-'and one half. Trailers of a greater loaded weight than two tons must be equipped with a hand brake. There are special clauses with respect to brake adjustment. EXIT DANGEROUS MASCOTS.

. There follow clauses dealing with warning devices and equipment generally. The last clause of this section proposes to put an end to the divers spearheads, spear-headed birds of the air, ships a-sailing with spear-pointed bows, and other fancy mascots; it reads:—. • _ "No persorrthall operate any motor vehicle having fitted to the outside thereof any mascot or apparatus which is made of hard material and is also of a piercing shape." CERTIFICATES OF FITNESS.

An all-round tightening up in inspection is proposed, and the first clause of this section states that there shall be carried on every motor vehicle used on the roads after November, 1936 (except where special licences have Been issued), a warrant of fitness issued not earlier than six months previously. Warrants are to be issued only by a person or firm appointed by the Minister, and for each warrant issued a fee of 5s is to be payable, to go to the Public Account. The form of the warrant is set out in the regulations.

Loading dimensions are amended in certain respects; for instance, it is suggested that when it is proposed that a vehicle loaded beyond the usual limits will traverse the districts of two or more local authorities permission may be given by the Commissioner of Transport or one of his officers, in which the permission of a controlling authority will not be necessary. Special precautions are outlined to cover cases of excess load widths after light-ing-up times.;

RULES OF ROAD AND PEDESTRIAN RIGHTS.

The former rules of the road are generally repeated, and it is further provided that: — ' Every driver . . i. shall yield the right of way ttf a pedestrian engaged in crossing the roadway within any authorised pedestrian crossing upon the half of the roadway over which such vehicle is lawfully entitled to travel, and when approaching such crossing the driver shall reduce his speed so as to be able to stop before reaching the crossing if necessary. Whenever a motor vehicle has stopped or slowed down to yield the right of way (to a pedestrian as aboveF it shall be unlawful for the driver of any motor vehicle approaching from the rear to overtake and pass such vehicle. But these clauses are not to apply to crossings where traffic officers are in control. THE SILENT MOTOR-CYCLE. > * There are special provisions relating to motor-cycles,' as to lights, brakes, footrests, and so on, and then the regulations repeat the former pious hope: No person shall operate a motorcycle unless it is equipped with a silencer in good working order, and so constructed or adapted that it is impossible for the driver to interfere with the effectiveness of the silencer when the vehicle is in motion. SPEED. The speed section of the new regulations is brief, consisting of two

clauses, the first being a master regulation stating that no person shall drive any motor vehicle at such a speed that the vehicle cannot be brought to a standstill within half the length of clear roadway which is visible immediately ahead, and the second requiring controlling authorities (local bodies) to send copies of bylaws to the Minister, with sketch rnaps on which are marked signs giving local speed limits. The onus is placed upon local authorities to maintain such signs. ■ ' All persons who carry on the business of letting motor vehicles for hire will be required to keep a- register of all such hirings. HOURS FOR LORRY-DRIVERS.:

Important additions are made under Regulation 19a: No person shall drive a trade motor for commercial purposes if by doing so he would be driving; any motor vehicle (1) For any continuous period of more than five and one-half hours; or (2) For continuous periods amounting in the aggregate to more tian eleven hours in any period of twenty-four hours; or (3) So that the driver has not at least ten. consecutive hours for rest in any period of twenty-four hours; or (4) So that the driver has not at least twenty-four consecutive hours for rest in any period of seven days.

Any two or more periods of time are to be deemed to be a continuous period unless separated by an interval of not less than half an hour in which the driver is able to obtain rest and refreshment'. It will be a defence to any proceedings if the defendant proves that the breach was due to unavoidable delay in the completion of any journey arising out of circumstances which he could not reasonably have foreseen. There has been considerable discussion as to the advisability of the registration of "push" bicycles. The draft regulations do not'touch upon this, though cycles have their section, which states: — . '

"Every person commits an offence against these .regulations who recklessly or negligently rides any bicycle on any road or other place, to which the public have access." . Generally .the cyclist is to" be required to follow all general traffic road and intersection rules, and there are special rules as to' how he shall take a corner—he shall not round a corner, passing to the right of other traffic, unless he has a clear view for at least 150 feet, and at no.times may cyclists ride more than two abreast.

FOR THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS.

Part 5 of the regulations is new. It deals with means for safeguarding the pedestrian, the main points being:— The pedestrian must keep to the footpath as far as is practicable, but where no reasonably adequate path is available he shall walk to his right of the centre line of the rod. , When he is. awaiting a tram at a tram stop where there is a footpath or safety zone on the side of the roadway opposite the entrance to the tram he must wait on the footpath or safety zone until the tram is stopped. When he has descended from a tram he shall first make to the side of the roadway or footpath directly opposite the exit from the tram before he proceeds further on his way.

If the pedestrian does not use <an autlv>rised pedestrian crossing which is reasonably available he shall yield the right of-way to motor vehicles on the roadway. .■ ■. - ; He. is not to remain on a crossing longer is necessary for the purpose of crossing with reasonable dispatch. .■'' . ' He is to look to left and right and when crossing a roadway at other than an authorised crossing is to cross at right angles to the kerb whenever possible. . He must comply: with the directions given by traffic officers, and, generally. has to keep to the footpath where one. is provided; or as near as possible to the edge*of the roadway if there is no path.