DANGERS OF DRIVING

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 17

DANGERS OF DRIVING

Conditions In Autumn • - Autumn conditions with the early dusk, wet and often slippery roads made winter driving mueh more dangerous, eaid th* chairman of the Christchurch Metropolitan. Road Safety Committee (Mr N. H. Browne) yesterday. Speaking in support of the safety campaign tor motorvehicle and bicycle lighting, Mr Browne said the first essential for any driver or rider was to have good lights correctly adjusted. If any driver bad doubts about his lighting equipment Mr Browne advised that it be attended to now. Cyclists should look to their rear red light and reflector, as well as their headlamp, as very often an inefficient tail-light could mean the difference between life and death. Many accidents were caused by drivers travelling at such a speed that, they outdrove their headlights, he said. Getting into the habit of using lights at the first hint of dusk would help others on the road to see a vehicle. During autumn, the peak hours for accidents were between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.. the hours of dusk and early darkness, said Mr Browne. Heavy traffic caused by homeward-bound workers undoubtedly was a contributing factor to the deadlines® of the earlier part of this three hour period, he said.