FAST, IRRESPONSIBLE DRIVING

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1938, Page 8

FAST, IRRESPONSIBLE DRIVING

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Would you kindly allow me to express an opinion on this subject, as a driver of over 20 years' experience. The two worst features of automobile driving in and around Wellington that I have particularly noticed are:

(1) The speed of some taxi drivers at intersections and rounding corners.

(2) The poor display of driving ability by a very large percentage of motor drivers in taking a corner. -

With regard to the first complaint, I have, on numerous occasions, both as a driver and pedestrian, had many narrow escapes from taxis at crossings, and these are out of all proportion to escapes from the rest of motor drivers who are far more numerous. As regards the second complaint, I would say that at least 75 per of drivers in Wellington have a very erroneous idea of how to turn a corner. I have seen cars turning corners run across the road till the left wheel is in the centre of the road, consequently the right-hand wheel is almost in the gutter. I wish to testify that after an extensive motor trip through the North Island the improverment .in road courtesy and road manners is very marked amongst the largest proportion of motor drivers, making it much more pleasant and easier to travel by car, I believe that with considerable improvement in the two items above mention, there would be little to complain about with local driving, but they are both very important, and really serious defects in the proper driving of automobiles.—l am, etc., MOTORIST.