APPEAL TO MOTORISTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144086, 3 May 1913, Page 2

APPEAL TO MOTORISTS.

Every little while complaints reach us about a lack of courtesy on the part of motorists when travelling about the country towards other users of tho roads. This morning a lady called upon us with a request that we should make an appeal for a better observance of the rules of tho road and ffreater consideration for other users. This lady complained that it is a very general practice among motorists when mooting horse-drawn vehicles to hold to tho centre of the road, forcing tho other party to, give way to tho extent of leaving the metalled surface alto■gethcr, even though a little mutual deviation would give room for passing without either being inconvenienced. Wo aro fully aware that in some places, while it is perfectly safe for another vehicle to get off tho road it is not safe for a motor ear to run a little to one side without risk of accident. Nevertheless our own experience tells -us that many car drivers do lay them-, ■ selves open to a charge of want of consideration and tho ordinary courtesy that is duo to other traffic. They •seem to think that the reads axe made dor their peculiar use, though they may '-not even as 'ratepayers contribute anything to their upkeep, and when they inefc other traffic it is the other fellow who must get out of the way. Unfortunately many of the roads are narrow and do not allow room for vehicles to pass on tho metal. But there should lie give and take between people and no trouble would arise. There are horso drivers who delight in holding ’the road against motorists who wish to p-ass thorn, but generally wo must • say that it is the motorist who shows the greater want of consideration, though this does not apply to all.