MIXED APPROVAL

Evening Star, Issue 19713, 14 November 1927, Page 5

MIXED APPROVAL

TO MOTOR REGULATIONS SPEED LIMIT HYPOCRITICAL “Some .are quite necessary, and will bring about improvement in the handling of motor traffic, but , others are quite unnecessary and not at all satisfactory from a public point of view. Yet the regulations show that the Government is earnestly trying to solve motoring problems by bringing about a much desired uniformity of by-laws.” Mr A. E. Ausell, president of the South Island Motor Union and the Otago Motor Club, had some interesting comments to make on the proposed uniform motor regulations introduced into the House on Friday when seen by a ‘Star’ reporter this morning. “With regard to lighting regulations,” said Mr Anscll, “motorists attach a good deal of importance to the proper focussing of headlights. This matter has been discussed for the last three or four years, and it seems, at present, to bo one of the better ways of legislating against dazzling lights. In tho proposed regulations dimming is forbidden. Personally, I, do not approve of tho proposal. Take, for instance, in a town, if a driver, on meeting a tramcar, docs not dim bis light, he is only courting accidents. The driver of the tramcar cannot possibly see anything’ or anybody in front of his car. Similar situations frequently arise oil the open road. Tho question of dimming or not dimming is one on which there arc various opinions, but 1 am very strongly against a law which forbids dimming when it is evident that dimming is safe and necessary.” Tho proposals also covered the rules of the road, and lie considered wise the regulation prohibiting the overtaking of traffic at or near an intersection or corner. Many accidents were caused by motorists overtaking other traffic whilst crossing intersections. The traffic signals prescribed were fairly good, but the rule that a warning instrument must be sounded twice when turning to the left was absurd, and one calculated to cause trouble and confusion. There was no necessity whatever for motorists to indicate the left hand turn because all traffic passing a car must pass on tho car’s right or od side. “ Anyone attempting to get such a regulation on the Statute Book is only acting tho hypocrite because all motorists on the open road exceed that speed, and in the majority of cases with absolute speed,” declared Mr Ansell in reference to the limit of thirty-five miles per hour on a continuous distance of over a quarter of a mile. “A speed of twenty-five miles an ' hour within boroughs and town districts is quite reasonable.”

' Mr Ansel! said that motor cyclists would consider very satisfactory the legalising of pillion riding. Motoring associations would receive copies of the regulations, and they would have an opportunity of forwarding their criticisms to the Under Secretary.