MOTOR REGULATIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1930, Page 7

MOTOR REGULATIONS

VALUE IN OBSERVANCE. IMPORTANT POINTS OUTLINED. (By Mr. R. Day, Ghief Inspector, New Plymouth Borough Council.) NO PERSON SHALL DRIVE ANY MOTOR VEHICLE AT SUCH A SPEED THAT THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE BROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL WITHIN HALF THE LENGTH OF CLEAR ROAD WHICH IS VISIBLE TO THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. The great majority of motor collisions occur at corners or street intersections, and a careful inquiry into the circumstances generally shows that one at least of the drivers has never heard of this regulation. In driving along a street the careful driver will note the next intersection and fix that point as the limit in which he may be called upon to pull. up. In correctly observing the regulation the motorist approaches the intersection slowly and then has ample opportunity to observe conditions before crossing the intersecting street. Many drivers ’depend upon the right of way, which they suppose they have by virtue of the right-hand rule, but the right-hand rule does not allow anyone to race across an intersection to the danger of other users of the road. Too much liberty is taken by drivers who imagine that they have the right of way, and it would be well for all motorists to study carefully the rule under review. The same position arises on a country road, at a bend or corner. If both drivers, for example, on Mount Messenger were observing the regulation properly, then instead of bumping each other over the cliff, both motorists -would have stopped in half the distance in which they could see, and we should then have two motor-ears facing each other and stopped some feet apart. The same regulation requires that a motorist shall stop if he is blinded by the lights of another car- at night. The plea of not being able to see does not help much in a case of manslaughter.

PASSING AND OVERTAKING ON ROADS. —Motorists passing or overtaking each other at high speeds are a potential danger. When being overtaken by a faster moving car one does not lose more than a second on the journey to slow up and let the faster moving vehicle pass to the safety of both ears. Accidents occur especially on wet or slippery roads when fast driven vehicles are passing each other. There is not much room to spare, and it would be much safer if both drivers showed a little consideration for the nerves of others.

SIGNALS WHEN STOPPING OR TURNING—The requirement to signal when intending to turn to the right or stop, is very clearly laid down in the regulations. The driver who parks his car on the side of the street and calmly pulls out into traffic without making a signal deserves all the unkind things said of him. At the same time the making of a signal is not everything; the man who desires to pull into a traffic line should make sure that the road ia clear. Talking of stopping in the streets reminds me that many motorists require a lesson in parking and economising room. When parking parallel to the kerb it is essential in the interests of the other fellow to get as close to the gutter as possible. When parking at a football match one should remember that parking space is limited and an effort should be made to utilise as little room as possible. At the same time the driver should study the position to see in which direction he is goinc, out. If all cars leave in the same direction much time and annoyance can be saved.

WHY DO MOTORISTS RUSH AT BRIDGES? —Time and again one hears the same old plea:. “It was my bridge.” I prefer to think “It is my neck and the other fellow can have the bridge.” In other-words the careful motorist will always give way to a fool. In an effort to secure safe driving on our roads and especially bridges, the careful motorist has the matter entirely in hSc own hands. Many instances are related where the sensible motorist would be quite justified in taking the number of the offending car and volunteering to give evidence. Any inspector given the particulars supported by another wit-r ness would take up tlie case, and if the practice were to become general it would do more to stop the road hogs than anything I know. Some motorists will hesitate about giving evidence against their offending brethren, but I as’k”'m all seriousness, is the careless motorist not a potential murderer? And surely any steps are justified when a man has run amok with a dangerous weapon, and more especially when the lives of women and children are in danger.