“DRIVE SLOWLY”

Hawera Star, 13 January 1930, Page 4

“DRIVE SLOWLY”

AIOTORJSTS FLOUT THE; REQUEST.

COUNTY ENGINEER’S COMPLAINT

The discourtesy and contempt accorded by a certain class of motorists to the request to “Drive Slowly” when passing workmen engaged in road repairs formed the subject of a complaint by the engineer and subsequent caustic comment by councillors at the monthly meeting of the Eltham County Council on Saturday. In his report on the month’s operations the engineer (Air. E- Muggeridge) made pointed reference to the action of a number of motorists who took not the slightest heed of notice boards and red flags at each end of a length of Boylan Road on which the county staff has been for the last week, and still is, engaged in (widening operations. Some of them, he reported, sped past at the rate of thirty to thirty-five miles an hour. • Every consideration was given to motorists and at one stage of operations the services of the county ranger were called upon to direct traffic in the interests of safety. Commenting on the engineer’s complaint, the chairman (Cr_ A. L. Campbell) quoted the case of one driver who “bawled out” the fact that the county engine was on the wrong side of the road. “Just imagine such a thing; the engineer should make a court case of it, said the chairman.

Cr. W. E. Carter expressed the opinion that the- council should empower its officers to make an example of the offenders. It was, he said, a waste of time to discuss the matter at every meeting.

Cr. R- J. Knuckey pointed out that the inspector (the county ranger) had the necessary authority and power, and he should use it by taking the motorists’ numbers and instituting court proceedings. The engineer said that some motorists rushed their ears past the sprayer in order to avoid getting them bespattered with bitumen.

| “We have to stop in other places when work is going on,” remarked Cr. J. L. Campbell, “so why not turn the sprayer on them and see if that will teach them a lesson.”

Another councillor suggested placing trestles across the road as an effective means of steadying impulsive drivers. Cr. A. V. Alessana advocated reporting offenders to the Automobile Association.

Cr. C. E. AlcGuinness referred to a request made by the Highways Board that repair work should be suspended during the Christmas holidays- Surely, he said, it should be necessary to protect the workmen.

The engineer said the instances of which he complained occurred after the holidays. The men were asking for red reflectors as a means of protection. In the laughter which followed the engineer’s statement, Cr. Ivnuckey said: ‘‘They’ll want a tail light first. Anyone has the power to stop such drivers, and there is no need to wait until there is an accident.”