MOTORING IN ENGLAND

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19762, 18 December 1935, Page 12

MOTORING IN ENGLAND

LONDON DIFFICULTIES. DOMINION DRIVER’S EXPERIENCE. Some of a New Zealand motorist s impressions of driving in London and in England were given in an interview by Mr Mark Armstrong, who has returned to Christchurch after a tour of Britain and America. lie thought the establishment of “Belisha” beacons and the imposition of a speed limit in built-up areas would have a big effect in decreasing the number of accidents. Driving a car in London, Mr Armstrong found fairly confusing. In making a right-hand turn a motorist had to di’ive to the centre of the road and stop with the nose of the car pointing in the new direction. When opportunity offered the driver joined the stream of traffic in the new direction, and while he was waiting straight-through traffic passed on his left. This was rather strange to a motorist accustomed to the New Zealand method of making right turns. On one occasion, Mr Armstrong attempted a turn by this method, but found it impossible and ultimately had to go straight on. Even in the busiest streets cars were permitted to cross to the wrong side of the road and pull up facing the wrong way. It was often necessary to wait some time for an opportunity to do this, but the wait for an opportunity to recross and join the traffic stream again was generally considerably longer. Horse-drawn Vehicles. The authorities, said Mr Armstrong, were, considering traffic regulations with the greatest attention. It seemed ' inevitable that before long horse-drawn vehicles would not be permitted in busy areas. At present it was a common sight to see whole lines of traffic moving very slowly because of a horse-drawi» vehicle. The bulk of the accidents on the roads consisted of injuries to pedestrians, and the Belisha beacons were designed to give greater safety to them. Mr Armstrong described the beacons as poles about seven feet high, on top of which are large orange painted globes. They are placed in pairs on the edge of the footpath, with a corresponding pair, on the footpath opposite. When a pedestrian crossed between the beacons the onus was on the motorist to see that the pedestrian crossed safely. They were of great value to both motorists and pedestrians, because the pedestrian knew he could cross safely there, and the motorist knew that at Belisha beacons he must drive slowly and if necessary stop. The beacons appeai-ed to be working well. The speed limit of 130 miles an hour in built-up areas was also a great factor in the reduction of accidents. On the open road, there was no speed limit. Indeed, the traffic authorities did not like dawdlers and encouraged cars to move quickly. Safety of Children. The care taken to ensure the safety j of school children in busy areas round ' London greatly impressed Mr Arm-' strong. At lunch time and when school was over for the day there was always a policeman ready to halt ■ traffic / for the children to cross the road safely. The children liau ... right attitude to the police anil regarded them as firm friends. It war. common to sec a crowd of children rush to a policeman and hold on to ; his hands and coat tails while crossing j the street, an action whicli seemed to j please both the children and the po- j liccman. To a New Zealander, the Engl is 1 roads appeared to be nearly perfc.t but the authorities were planning make them even better. The cm :;l ruction of by-passes round bin centres not only avoided delays bu minimised the risk of accidents in lb centres. It was necessary,. said Mi Armstrong, to tour rural England lo appreciate why Englishmen loved England so much. The trees had a grace and beauty not found in other countries, and the undulating roads ; made a tour of the country a succes- j iion of beautiful vistas.