THE HOLIDAY PERIOD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23687, 20 December 1938, Page 11

THE HOLIDAY PERIOD

CONTROL OF TRAFFIC VIGILANCE ON MAIN HIGHWAYS INSTRUCTIONS TO INSPFXTORS (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Dec. 19. The policy that will be followed by traffic inspectors on main highways during the holiday period was outlined by the Minister of Transport (Mr R. Semple) in an interview this evening. He said that present indications were that traffic during the Christinas and New Year week-ends would probably be the heaviest ever experienced on the roads of New Zealand. The staff of traffic inspectors has recently been increased specially tc deal with holiday traffic," said Mr Semple. "There will be an all-nigh> patrol of certain main highways during the peak periods, and ( all inspectors have definite instructions to look out for drivers whose conduct endangers the safety of other road users. The inspectors will treat everybody with courtesy and consideration. They will aim to control the heavy streams of traffic so that they will flow smoothly and safely. They will seek to safeguard the sensible, law-abiding motorist from the bad-mannered, irresponsible driver who attempts to cut in and out of a procession to gain a few car lengths at the expense of someone else's safety. Most important of all, they will encourage road users to do the right thing, not only because the law says so, but also because their cooperation will help to reduce the toll of accidents and make motoring more pleasant for everyone. " During the holidays inspectors will be on the look-out for three types of road users. One type is characterised by his irresistible impulse to get in front of anything ahead, by his noisiness when any other road users happen to be in his way, and by his complete lack of motoring manners. He is a "road-hog," and he will not be protected by any closed season during the holidays. At the other end of the scale is the "traffic snail," the very slow | driver who frequently clings tenaciously to the centre of the road and whose crawling pace causes other traffic to pile up behind. In congested traffic, other cars cannot pass safely because of bends and vehicles approaching.from the opposite direction. At last, someone becomes impatient, pulls out of the line, and a serious accident results. If the car is an older and much slower model than the one behind or the driver is nervous, it is lik or her duly to keep as far as is practicable to the left and to allow faster vehicles to get past. It is no more courteous to block traffic than to block a busy shop doorway." Mr Semple said the fact that accidents were preventable had been shown by the experience of the last nine day's. Only one period of more than six days free from fatal road accident had previously been recorded. Nine days had now passed without a" fatality on the roads, and this record was still unbroken.