ROAD SAFETY

Evening Star, Issue 22449, 21 September 1936, Page 14

ROAD SAFETY

DRAFT OF NEW REGULATIONS WARRANT OF FITNESS FOR VEHICLES [Pek United Press Association] WELLINGTON, September ,19. Proposals for the more effective control of traffic, both, vehicular and pedestrian, are contained in a draft set of regulations, copies of which have been circulated to interested organisations by the Minister of Transport (Mr Semple) through the Transport Department. The principle underlying the issue of the regulations is the promotion of considerably greater safety for all types of traffic. The regulations aim at a tightening up of the standard of fitness required for motor vehicles. One clause states that after November, 1936, except where special licenses have been issued, there shall be carried in every vehicle a warrant of fitness taken out not less than six months previously. A fee of 5s will be payable for each warrant. Special precautions are to be taken to ensure safe loading dimensions, especially at night. While the former rules of the road are generally repeated, there are special additional regulations covering the rights of pedestrians. It is provided that every driver of a motor vehicle shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian engaged in crossing a roadway within any authorised pedestrian crossing upon that half of the roadway over which such a vehicle is lawfully entitled to travel, and, when approaching such crossing, the driver shall reduce speed so as to be able to stop, if necessary, before reaching the crossing. Whenever a motor vehicle has stopped or slowed down to yield the right of way (to a pedestrian as above) it shall be unlawful for the driver of any motor vehicle approaching from the rear to overtake and pass such vehicle. A new regulation states that a pedestrian must keep to the footpath as far as is practicable. He must wait on the footpath until a tram has, stopped, if he wishes to board it, and when descending from a tram he must make immediately to the footpath. The regulations dealing with speed include a “ master ” regulation stating that no person shall drive any motor vehicle at such a speed that it cannot be brought to a standstill within half the length of clear roadway ahead. An important section of the regulations deals with the hours worked by lorry drivers. It is stated: “No person shall drive a trade motor for commercial purposes if by doing so he would “be driving—(l) for any continuous period of more than five hours and a-half; (2) for continuous periods amounting in the aggregate to more than 11 hours in any 24 hours: (3) so that the driver has not had at least_10 consecutive hours for rest in any period of 24 hours; (4) so that the driver has not had at least 24 consecutive hours for rest in any seven days.” The regulations also deal with cyclists. It will be an offence to ride a bicycle recklessly or negligently _ on any road and generally a cyclist will be required to follow all traffic, road, and intersection rules. The present regulations covering lighting and braking are in the main repeated. It is emphasised that the regulations have probably by no means reached their final form, and are likely to bo substantially revised before they are actually gazetted. They .have been circulated to automobile associations and other interested bodies, and will have to be approved by the recently established National Safety Council before they are brought into force.