A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24639, 21 June 1941, Page 11

A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION

TO THE EDITOR

Sir— Having noticed recent correspondence relating to a particularly bad intersection at the corner of Maitland street. Main South road, and Princes street south, with its castigations of the offending motorist who is always blamed, but not always at fault, it appears to me that the real fault lies with the City Corporation in not declaring this section, from Glen road to the intersection .at the corner of Maitland street, etc., a one-way traffic street, either for trams or motorists, and I would suggest that motorists be allowed this street only when approaching the city, and it would then conform with the regulations. One extremely dangerous feature about this road is that the trams (due to the position of the line) approaching the city' are on the wrong side of the road, and many a nasty accident has been narrowly avoided by motorists who, by keeping to their correct side of the road, are liable to meet the incoming tram approaching on the wrong side of the road. This method of traffic control is not only contrary to the accepted rule of the road, but is definitely dangerous to both motormen and motorists alike, and if the existing conditions are continued there will be a succession of accidents and “ near misses on this road. It should be quite possible to divert outgoing traffic through Wilkie road, which is now an excellent highway to Glen road and incoming traffic over the South road and so conform with the regulations. Someone may have a better suggestion than this, but it appears to me the only proper and feasible way of overcoming the difficulty Who would be responsible for an accident if an outgoing motorist travelling on his correct side of the road crashed into a tram approaching town on the wrong side? Would the City Fathers hold themselves responsible? You're telling me!—l am. etc., Dunedin, June 19- Offside,

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—l would like to endorse the statements by writers respecting the Maitland street and Princes street corner. I have lived in the vicinity for three years, and in that space of time I have seen a good many accidents, i admit that some of the people concerned escaped with a shaking, but that was their luck. I think it is a sin to expect children going to Kensington School to have to pass over such a dangerous crossing with no protection whatever. Before the discs they have around their necks are required for evacuation purposes it may be needed to identify some poor little mangled form struck down by a ruthless speed-hog. I trust, therefore, that the City Fathers will see that something is done, and done quickly.—l am, etc., Resident No. 2. Dunedin, June 19.