ROAD CONDITIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26957, 17 December 1948, Page 6

ROAD CONDITIONS

Sir, —Motorists are usually blamed for most of the accidents on New Zealand roads. The roads are in many cases dangerous, especially approaches to bridges, some of which are almost at a right angle to the formed road, having been built when bullocks were used.

Gravel is being used with stones over half an inch crushed, so that the edges are as sharp as the edge of broken glass. During a trip last Christmas to Nelson and back to Dunedin I cut three tyres on stones In gravel crushed to half an inch.

According to the law, if material is used that can be proved to be dangerous those responsible for putting it. there. can be made to pay for the damage caused. Whether material with sharp stones in it crushed and screened to half an Inch would be considered dangerous by a magistrate is the question that makes all the difference. If it was not necessary to crush the stones in gravel to make a road for iron tyres, why is it necessary to crush them to make a road for air tyres? My opinion is that what was printed in your columns a few days ago about civil engineering having slipped In the last 30 years is only too true. The wet-nursing stuff about the £30,000 a mile to make the roads carry a few tons extra axle load proves it beyond all doubt.—l am, etc., One of the Mags.