VISIBILITY ON ROADS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22318, 16 January 1936, Page 14

VISIBILITY ON ROADS

HEDGES AT CORNERS DANGER TO MOTORISTS The decision of the Waikato County Council to compel property owners to remove hedges at dangerous road intersections is welcomed by motoring authorities. "With better road surfaces and increasing speeds there is an increasing need for better visibility," said Mr. R. E. Champtaloup, touring manager of tho Automobile Association, yesterday. "Normally, of course, we have very little trouble and if it is pointed out that a hedge might cause accidents tho occupier is quite ready to co-operate. The position has to be watched carefully, as the hedges grow again, and in one or two instances we have even had trouble through tall grass at tho roadside blocking the view.

"Improvements to the alignment of highways and in the cutting back of corners have removed other danger spots in recent years, but some still remain. Contrary to the general belief, hoardings do not cause much trouble, as advertisers will not allow them to be erected on corners where they obscure vision." Local authorities are empowered under the Public Works Act to compel occupiers to cut back trees and hedges at intersections, but in practice it is found that the powers seldom need to bo invoked. More difficulties arise in urban districts, where hedges are grown by occupiers of corner sections to ensure privacy. There is, of course, less risk of accident, as city speeds are much lower than those on main highways.