ANIMALS ON ROADS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4810, 18 February 1936, Page 3

ANIMALS ON ROADS.

SWERVING TO AVOID DOGS. The natural instinct of almost every motorist is to swerve abruptly and brake hard in order to avoid a dog which has rushed suddenly in his path, but, unfortunately, such spontaneous good nature sometimes is the cause of serious risk or grave accident, and often defeats its own ends since the animal may suddenly halt, or dart in another direction. There can be no dispute about the relative responsibilities. If, without endangering other road-users or oneself, it is possible by blowing down, blowing the horn, or swerving, to avoid running over a dog, then it is callous not to take every precaution, but motorists are not called upon to jeopardise human life or "pile up" their cars because of the folly of a domestic animal. Many dogs are sensible in traffic, and will pause at the roadside before crossing and take immediate notice of a "toot," but those which rush out and snap at tyres are not deserving of any exhibition of sympathy which involves risk to human beings or valuable property. A sharp swerve or harsh braking on a slippery road might be disastrous, and in such circumstances the proper course is to steer straight for the animal so that the car might pass over it and it is not struck by the wheels. When mobs of sheep or cattle are met with, the motorist's obligation is to slow down at once and stop, if necessary, until the drover has cleared a path for him, and he is also obliged by law and the dictates of common politeness to be specially careful when meeting or overtaking restive horses.