MOTORISTS MUST BE CAREFUL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 39, 15 January 1946, Page 6

MOTORISTS MUST BE CAREFUL

OLD VEHICLES AND WEAK TYRES This summer there are many thousands of motor cars speeding from the toAvns on to the open liighAvay. A Avord of Avarning is given to the drivers by Mr W. L. Newnham, chairman of the Main Highways Board and a member of the'N.Z. Road Safety Council. “The highAvays of today are much as they Avere in 1939/’ said Mr Newnbam. “Maintenance of surfaces lias been continued during the Avar years as far has been possible with the limited staff and plant available, but there has been comparatively little new construct ion work. Generally speak-* ing, motorists Avill find the popular routes in good condition.

“However, the driver who has of necessity been confined to the city during recent years must give keen attention to the very different conditions that apply on the open road. In the first place, as widths are generally narrower, the driver must keep strictly to his proper side. Secondly many of .the intersections arc partially-obscured. It is thus important to watch for side roads and to slew down where there is not a clear view a Thirdly there is not usually any footpath, and the roadway itself has to be shared with the pedestrian. Particularly when pass,ing through settlements the driver has to be ready to slow down or stop because of pedestrian and other local traffic. “If drivers observe these three cardinal points—keeping strictly to the left, watching out at intersections, and slowing down through settlements,” concluded Mr Newnham, “l feel sure, that the highways hold little danger for traffic.”