DOMINION ROADS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 84, 9 April 1938, Page 28

DOMINION ROADS

VISITOR'S COMMENTS

PROVISION FOR HEAVIER FLOWS

Suggestions for the improvement of New Zealand highways were made by Sir Stenson Coolce, general secretary of the Automobile Association of Great Britain, in an address at the weekly luncheon meeting of the Auckland Rotary Club. Sir Stenson stated that, taking into consideration the population and the number of vehicles, he had been agreeably impressed with the Dominion's roads. "It appears to me that the time is not very far distant when you will have to consider some more adequate provision for traffic on the arterial outlets from your larger cities," stated Sir Stenson. "The present highways permit only two lanes of traffic, and do not make sufficient provision for an additional lane of slow-moving vehicles. I can see a very real danger at weekends and holidays when traffic becomes

congested, where a slow driver will hold up a long line of cars, the drivers of which are anxious to get ahead. You then have cars swerving to the wrong side to overtake and pass, vehicles cutting in and out of the line of traffic, and'attendant dangers. "Dual carriageways making provision for two or four lines of vehicles on each side of the highway are a feature of road construction iti Europe and Great Britain. The attention of roading authorities in New Zealand will naturallyl^ turn to these matters' as the number of vehicles increases. To promote greater safety on heavilycongested highways, intersections are being designed where cross traffic is carried by overbridges and subways, so that traffic lanes cannot intersect. "In England there are round-abouts or islands at busy intersections on main arterial outlets, and I strongly, recommend this system for the consideration of your roading authorities. Then again, pedestrians and bicycles should be kept well away from the main traffic stream if the greatest safety is to be achieved. ABOLITION OF LEVEITCROSSINGS. .. "Parking on highways is another matter regarding which I am prompted to comment," continued Sir Stenson. "Widening of highways at suitable places to permit pulling off for luncheon, to effect repairs, or to admire the scenery, is a matter which is now engaging the attention of British road -engineers. "The abolition of level railway crossings, provision for the segregation of traffic, adequate super-elevation on bends, fly-over junctions, uniform nonskid surfaces, and adequate lighting are technical features essential to the construction of modern highways. These are features to which engineers can give adequate attention only if they are not handicapped by finance. I am a keen advocate of all taxes collected from motorists being devoted to ■roading improvement and maintenance. Our experience in Britain has been bitter in this respect, as we built up a vast road fund and then millions of pounds were confiscated." ( Sir Stenson pointed out that good roads were as essential to the rural land owner as to the motorist, as the beneficial effect of dustless roads was apparent on New Zealand pastures.