MODERN ROADS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23011, 12 April 1938, Page 4

MODERN ROADS

SAFETY IN GERMANY UNUSUAL CONSTRUCTION NO CROSS-LINE TRAFFIC "German roadways are absolutely colossal and carry an uninterrupted flow of fast traffic," said Mrs. Louise Schilling, who arrived at Auckland yesterday by the Reliance. Mrs. Schilling, who has been living in the United States for the past five years, recently spent some months with her parents in Hamburg and is returning home after the world cruise.

"Germany realises to the full the value of good roads as a sound national investment in both defence and commerce," added Mrs. Schilling- "In Bavaria many of the roads are of cobblestone, which, while picturesque, is not very efficient. As against these Hitler has had reconstructed some of the world's most modern roads, called auto-bahnen."

Airs. Schilling said that of these roads, the Frankfort-Heidelberg autobahn was the most outstanding. It ran in a straight line for nearly 40 miles and had a perfect concrete surface. A groat feature of the road was that there was no interference from oncoming traffic, which was separated by a built-up strip of turf with a hedge down the centre to prevent glare at night. Each lane was about 20ft wide. "The intersections are amazing and in Germany these most dangerous sections of the road have been made as safe as humanly possible," said Mrs. Schilling. "With the aid of overhead bridges and loop roads all cars are able to avoid cross lines of traffic. Only motor traffic is allowed on these roads, while bicycles, horses and cows have everywhere to use the cobblestone roads. In Germany the right hand drive is the rule."