DANGER OF THE ROAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20990, 29 September 1931, Page 9

DANGER OF THE ROAD.

RECKLESS MOTOS DEOTNGr. ENGLAND'S NIGHTMARE. INCIDENTS ON NEW HIGHWAY. The opening of the Great West Road—perhaps the most important of all the main traffic arteries radiating from London—was hailed with acclamation. Road engineers and surveyors agreed that it •was the most wonderful' motoring road that had ever been constructed. Tlfey wero of the opinion that it would prove I the safest As the most expensive road the newhighway ought to have fulfilled both ideals. Motorists of all classes were equally delighted—the average driver because it meant azx easy way to the west away from narrow, congested streets; the sports-car driver because it presented an opportunity for trying the paces of his machine. A correspondent of the Manchester Guardian says:—"The Great West Road' is still a wonderful one, but it has long since ceased to be a safe one. It is, in fact, the most dangerous road in thecountry, especially at week-ends. Serious accidents are almost of daily occurrence. Recently there were five accidents at the same spot in one weelc. It is rare for a J day to pass without some injured person j being admitted to the local hospitals. A I short time ago road-accident cases filled ! every bed in the Hounslow Hospital. "Most Dangerous" Road. "I recently spent a Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning driving to and fro on this highway, and I have no hesitation in saving tliat the Great West Road is the most dangerous in the country. Nor is this an isolated opinion. It is confirmed by patrols, scouts, and every careful, thoughful driver. ' "My experience on this stretch of road exonerates the family man owner-driver, entirely. He i 3 too keen on his car, to say nothing of his family, to take unnecessary risks. He is careful, considerate, and skilfcd, but unfortunately., he frequently suffers from the misdeeds of others. "Recognition of the danger run forces many owner-drivers living in the West End, the east, north and north-west qf London to choose another route. "The Great West Road is the broadest of ail, and herein lies its chief danger. It is unduly broad along its whole length, and this fault is increased because? it is reached from both ends by much narrower roads. During the week there are numerous instances of bad driving, but not more so than elsewhere. "Seething Mass of Traffic." "It is only those who suffer directly from the erratic behaviour af cthersi^vko appreciate that there are many motorists who still have mucll to learn as regards roadcraft. The proper time to see this road at its worst is during a fine weekend. From Saturday noon until well after ! Sunday midnight the road is a seething ; i mass of traffic, with only a short breathi \ ing space during the middle of the night. > | "When driving with the stream of • j traffic, outwards during the forenoon and inwards in the late afternoon and evening, there are frequent momentary thrills. But to attempt to drive against the traffic stream is almost suicidaL it is a veritable nightmare. It is not a case of occasionally being faced with a driver 'cutting-in.' There is invariably an almost solid block of cars, three, four and eyen five abreast. Constant stoppages are necessary to prevent a head-on collision. "There are two main causes for the really terrible conditions prevailing at the week-end. These are its unusual width and the impatience of many drivers. Its width invites speeding, and many drivers do this regardless of the'dangers incurred. The liberties., which are taken by many motorists are criminal. The lines of traffic frequently occupy the whole road from the near-side to the off-fiide kerb. Each lin» of traffic is travelling more quickly than that on its left. The speed of the -off-side stream is terrific. "The police, however, are quite impotent to deal with every case of dangerous driving. The moment the mobile polica are out of sight the reckless drivers giva way to their impatience. They swing out, overtake and 4 cut-in' without any thought for others. "The only solution of the problem, in. my opinion, is to make the Great West Road into a double track by means of a broad grass verge down its centre. In this way two one-way roads would be provided, and accidents would be reduced j to the minimum."