FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19800, 27 May 1926, Page 3

FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE CITY BY-LAWS. TRAFFIC REGULATIONS. A GUIDE TO THEIR OBSERVANCE. Primarily intended for the protection of the public, by-laws not infrequently prove a snare and a delusion. Dressed in their legal phraseology, they are, at times, difficult to understand, and many an unfortunate driver of a vehicle, whether motor or horse-drawn, linds himself utterly at a loss to fathom their exact meaning and method of operation. Whilst the average everyday by-laws—-such as keeping to the left and passing on tho right of another 'vehicle—have become more or less a matter of instinct, there still remain several which are quite unknown. Thus it would appear that much trouble, and, in certain cases, the amount of a legal penalty, could be saved by motorists, cyclists, and the drivers of horsedrawn vehicles if they would only spare the time to peruse carefully the little booklet issued by the City Corporation and known by the brief title of “By-law 18.” At a cursory glance it seems to be a mass of legal phrases. It is accurately indexed, bristles with such phrases as “no person shall,” ‘‘any such,” interspersed with many “whereas’s” and “provided’s,” and is divided into no fewer than 128 sections. It seems at first glance to be an awesome document, yet a careful study will repay those who care to read it, and after the initial feeling of bewilderment it will be found that each section is carefully worded, and that the explanations, if studied in their practical application, are really remarkably clear and concise. GENERAL REGULATIONS.

With the advent of the motor car, attention has been diverted from the pedal cyclist, with the result that the latter has come to look on by-laws as matters to be ignored, and he treats them with a calm indifference. Yet they have a real application to him. It is no uncommon sight to see a youth (and frequently a rider old enough to know better) allowing himself and his cycle to be towed along by a convenient lorrv, a practice which, if they would only stop to think, is a highly dangerous one. There is, also, the budding vaudeville artist who does graceful evolutions on his wheel with both hands off the handle-bar—he, as well as the cyclist who obtains free traction, is infringing a section of By-law 18, and is liable to be punished accordingly. There is. too, a section which provides a penalty for riding a bicycle without both feet on the pedals. A section of the by-law which may ap pear at first to be tinged with a certain amount of humour, is the one which states that “the driver of a vehicle or the rider of a horse, or any person riding in or upon any vehicle upon a public street in the city shall not ring a bell or blow a horn or play upon or use any noisy instrument. Of course, there is a proviso added which points out that any such bell or alarm may be used in accordance with tho provisions of the by-law. Nevertheless, .the first paragraph would appear to be hardly necessary except on Capping Day or in the case of a hunt club tally-hoing through the city. Those in charge of horses, or vehicles drawn by horses, are not forgotten, and it is safe to say that not more than 20 per cent, of them know many of the provisions under by-law 18. For instance, there is a section which warns them against using a whip longer than is necessary to reach a horse s shoulder. It is also doubtful whether it is generally known that a horse attached to any heavy load may not be allowed to proceed out of a walking pace whilst in the streets of the city. MOTOR BY-LAWS. In regard to motor cars, the sections of the by-law are numerous, but although motorists as a rule do not deliberately ignore many 7 of them, they are at times careless in their observance. What is known as “cutting the corner” seems to be an offence of which all drivers are frequently guilty. This is quite easily uitderstood, as it is undoubtedly'tempting for a motorist with what appears to be a clear crossing in front of him to turn into a side-street by the easiest possible route instead of adhering to the rule which lays down clearly that he must continue to drive across the intersection along a line in continuation of his course in the street he is about to leave until he is as near as reasonable to the left side of the street which he is about to enter. , , , What at first sight seems to be the most involved section, but which, in reality, is one of the simplest, is the one which concerns vehicles crossing intersections. Summed up and in motoring parlance, it means giving way to the car on the driver’s driving side, providing always, of course, that he is in charge of a right-hand-driven car. To those who are not clear regarding the correct operation of this section, a local application may help them to understand its working. , Say, four cars. A, B, C, and D, meet at the intersection of George and St. Andrew streets. A is proceeding south along George street, B is coining up St. Andrew street, O is going down George street towards Knox Church, and D is coming down St. Andrew street from I'illeul street. It is improbable that four motors would thus meet at any intersection, but should it happen, the procedure would be as follows; — • B would stop and lot A through. _ B would then pass ahead of C (C haying stopped because the crossing car B is on its right), C would then cross ahead of D, and II would follow. The driver of B would look for traffic at the north end of George street and pull up, C would look for cross traffic at the intersection of St. Andrew 7 street nearest the harbour, D would be watching out for anything coming down George street, and A would be looking out for any vehicle coming down by Penrose’s corner. One ear is always certain to arrive ahead of the other three, and it therefore follows that the first arrival would automatically control the other three. A diagram on the lines indicated is all that is required to make this seemingly difficult section perfectly clear. Another section to which attention should be drawn is 118, which runs as follows: —"It shall not be lawful to turn any vehicle for the purpose of altering its' direction of travel except at the intersection of a street.” Peculiarly enough this particular clause is very little known, and is seldom observed. This ignorance, however, is surely pardonable, for, only a few days ago, a Times reporter who was on tho scene of a collision which was the outcome of a disregard of this rule was surprised to hear a carrier who has been driving in the city for the past 15 years remark that it was a pity that there could not be framed a by-law which would make it illegal for a vehicle to turn anywhere but at a crossing. His surprise may be imagined when he was informed that such a by-law had been in existence for some time.