MOTOR BY-LAWS

Southland Times, Issue 19459, 26 January 1925, Page 6

MOTOR BY-LAWS

REPLY TO CRITICISM, TRAFFIC INSPECTOR SPEAKS OUT. FARMERS UNDULY CONCERNED. Of late the by-laws regulating the vehicular traffic of Invercargill have been the subject of considerable criticism. Not only does the man in the street complain of what he considers to be harsh regulations, but organisations, particularly in farming circles, have publicly expressed disapproval of the present system. The complaints, in the majority of cases, boil themselves down to the opinion that the great majority of motorists are ignorant of the regulations, but there are some who consider that Invercargill’s traffic by-laws are unnecessarily severe. In view of a recently published criticism by the Southland Executive of the Farmers’ Union, a Times reporter interviewed Mr E. Stopford, the local traffic inspector, and was given some interesting facts as to the alleged “unfair treatment” farmer motorists are receiving. “PLAIN COMMON-SENSE.” “The position at the present time is that the by-laws have been in force for over 12 months, and we consider that the motoring public, both in the town and in the country, have had ample time to become thoroughly conversant with the regulations,” said Mr Stopford. “The trouble is,” he continued, “that a number of motorists simply will not bother to inquire what the by-laws of the town are, and as a consequence they must sooner or later get into trouble. The present laws only amount to plain common-sense, and aro perfectly simple. Any policeman or traffic inspector will always give information as to the parking areas or details of the laws if appealed to, and a visitor from the country could find out in five minutes the exact rules he was obliged to conform to.” NO EXCUSE FOR IGNORANCE. Mr Stopford continued that there was no excuse for the driver of any vehicle not becoming conversant with the regulations. A short time ago an Australian motorist wJio had only just arrived at Bluff visited the inspector’s office first thing and inquired as to the town by-laws. That was the proper course for anyone in ignorance to take, and if it was invariably taken there would be very few motorists before the Court. If any motorist required more detailed instructions, there was always a booklet containing the by-laws to be purchased for the sum of 1/-. The offenders could not always expect to be let off with a caution. “But,” he continued, “it has always been my practice to be fair to those who have committed minor breaches, and, if taken in the right spirit, the ease has been met by a warning. Owing to the number of accidents that have taken place in Invercargill, any sane motorist will agree that speeding round corners, cutting corners, driving on the wrong side of the road, and insufficient warning of approach are faults that must be put a stop to, and it is in the interest of the pubile and the motorists themselves that we are taking offenders to Court.” PARKS CLEARLY DEFINED. It was also pointed out by the inspector that the parking places have only ’been changed once in twelve months, and then by a resolution of the Council on July 22, 1924. They are clearly defined by notice boards, and the method of parking is always demonstrated by the cars already in position when the motorist arrives at the spot. When the slight alteration in the parks was made, the new sites were advertised in the local papers. It was also stated that the traffic regulations differed from northern centres, where they were not so stringent. As a matter of fact, the bylaws in most places were much more exacting. It was true that in Dunedin a motorist was not penalised if he cut across oncoming traffic, etc., but he did so entirely at his own risk, and the narrowness of the streets, combined with the heavy traffic, made such an action suicidal. FEW FARMERS PROSECUTED. “Invercargill,” continued Mr Stopford, “is rather unique in that invariably a great percentage of the cars on the streets are driven by farmers who are in town. The drivers are being treated very leniently, and comparatively few have been prosecuted.” He stated that the prosecutions for the period March 30, 1924, to January 21, 1925, were as follows: — COUNTRY. Incorrect parking 7 Speeding 11 Non-registration 3 Cutting corners 5 Driving on the wrong side of the street 4 Passing stationary trams .. 3 Driving horse vehicle carelessly -.. .. 1 Plying for hire without license 1 Total 35 BOROUGH. Total prosecutions 141 “Considering the number of people who visit Invercargill during the year,” Mr Stopford added, “the number we have prosecuted is very small.” In reply to a question as to the advisability of issuing copies of the by-laws’ to motorists with their registrations and licenses, the inspector said that it would be a matter for the Council to act in conjunction with the Government authorities, but such a system would mean extra expense in imparting knowledge that could be obtained by motorists as he had previously suggested.