HILL TRAFFIC

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 26 March 1936, Page 4

HILL TRAFFIC

WHO SHOULD GIVE WAY? MOTORISTS’ DISCUSSION The Marlborough Automobile Association devoted some discussion to a suggestion contained in a letter from the South Island Motor Union containing the following resolution, passed at the union’s half-yearly meeting : —• “That as an attempt to arrange a general convention re hill traffic for the North and South Islands lias been unsuccessful. the associations affiliated to llic S.I.M.U. are recommended to adopt tbo convention that on all dangerous hill roads inside traffic give way to outsido traffic, and that delegates come to the next quarterly meeting prepared to vote on the question.” When the. letter was read Mr R. V. Bythell (according to the “Express ) said he would move that the association endorse that policy, and remarked that lie was glad to see that a magistrate had also endorsed it. As a driver who had done considerable hill work in many parts of New Zealand lie was convinced that the inside man should always give way. The chairman (Mr R. P. Furness) said that the North Island Motor Union would not give a lead ; there was no convention there. The South Island Union, however, had passed a resolution favouring the inside man giving way, and although his personal preference was in the other direction (down-hill traffic giving way), he thought the association would do well to accept the recommen-) dation so that at least there would be some sort of unanimity in the South Island. Mr W. J. Girling inquired how it would be received by magistrates in cases of accident. There was no definite rule; nothing had been passed by Parliament. “If we were unanimous the Government would have to take it up, too,” he said. Th.e chairman said he thought magistrates would take cases on their merits, but he thought, too, that it was likely that if it was known that it had been decided on by all associations of the South Island Motor Union, magistrates would give it consideration. Dr. Redman said there was only one rule of the road, and that was that drivers should keep to their correct side. This rule might mean a driver going on to his wrong side. The chairman: “No, lie has to stop. It’s not necessary for him to go over to the other side of the road.” Dr. Redman said the suggestion could olilv- be regarded as a recommendation. The chairman: “It is very desirable to get something that everyone will agree to.” One thing about it, he added, was that the man on the inside could graze the bank, if the worst came to the worst, and stop. The man on the outside might fall a thousand feet before he stopped. Mr Bythell’s motion, which was seconded by Mr W. G. Rudd, was carried WARNING SIGNS A further motion passed at the union’s half-yearly meeting, dealing with-the devising and improving of warning signs was also consideYed. The inotiQji.waa as follows: “That in view of the many serious accidents that have occurred it is the duty of this union to do all possible to elim inate dangers of the road, and the union recommends all. affiliated associations to give special consideration to devising and improving warning signs, and send their recommendations to the executive so that it can bring down a report at the next meeting of delegates. The secretary (Mr R. Wanden) informed those, present that the next meeting of delegates would be in June, at Waimate. The chairman remarked that so long as Dame Nature and the local hooligans did not treat them roughly the symbolic signs were very satisfactory, so far as Marlborough was concerned. It was necessary, of course, that the signs should be prominently placed. The meeting decided to make no recommendation.