White Posts on Sides of Roads

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 161, 9 July 1941, Page 2

White Posts on Sides of Roads

COUNTY SEES DANGER TO HORSE-DRAWN TRAFFIC At its last meeting the Kairanga County Council decided to bring under the notice of the Public Works Department the danger that existed on Rangitikei Line by reason of the proximity of the white posts to the edge of the sealed surface, and to ask that consideration be given to removing the posts entirely or shifting them further back. It was stated at the meeting that at present there was very little room for horse-drawn traffic, and as this type of vehicle was becoming more widely used, the danger of a collision with the posts should be reduced to a minimum. “I regret that I cannot agree either to moving these posts further back or removing them altogether, ' 1 stated a reply received by the council yesterday from the Department’s resident engineer at Palmerston North (Mr. A. R. Acheson). “The white posts are defin* itely of benefit to motorists, particularly on nights when visibility is bad, and are also of considerable benefit to cyclists who use this section of highway to a considerable extent. At the present time there is ample room on the northeastern side of the highway for horse traffic without damaging the white posts, while on the other :side, power poles have been painted to act as guides, and these, of course, cannot be shifted. Although horse-drawn traffic has undoubtedly increased to some extent, the proportion of horse-drawn traffic tro motor traffic is still very small. ’ 9 Cr. M. G. Hansen commented that, in the event of an injury to someone through a collision with the posts, the Department could be held liable. There had already been two accidents through horses hitting the posts. Cr. F. J. Russell said he could not see that the posts were any use to motorists. Cr. Hansen: I could understand it if the area was one affected by fog. The posts would be just as effective if they were four feet back. On the motion of Cr. T. D. Lynch, it was decided to bring under the notice of the Department the fact that there had been two accidents already and to ask for reconsideration of the council's request.