HOLIDAY TRAFFIC

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 78, 24 December 1937, Page 6

HOLIDAY TRAFFIC

Staff of Inspection Has Been Increased MINISTER'S APPEAL The policy that will be followed wf, traffic inspectors on main highways oa Christmas Eve and during the holidayi was discussed by the Minister of Trans* port (Hon. R. Semple) in a furthnf appeal to motorists. "There will be au all-night patrol lf main highways on Christmas Eve and all of the inspectors have definite in* structions to look out for the driveis whose conduct endangers the safety of other road-users," said Mr. Semple. "The staff of traffic inspectors has been .. increased this week especially to den| with holiday traffic, ' ' he added. ' 'Tho inspectors will treat everybody with' courtesy and consideration; they will aim to control the heavy streams of traffic so that they flow smoothly and safely, yet speedily; they will seek tO safeguard the sensible, law-abiding motorist from any bad-mannered, irrw sponsible driver who attempts to cut in and out of the procession to gain a few car lengths at the expense of somebodj] else's safety. On Christmas Eve and during the holidays they will encourago the motorist to do the right thing, not only because the law says so, but be« cause their co-operation will (help t O reduce the toll of accidents and makn' happier and more pleasant motoring foij everyone during the holidays. Two Types of Road TJsers. ' "The inspectors will be on the look« out for two types of road users," saidj Mr. Semple. "The one type is charac-# terised by his irresistible impulse to get in front of anything ahead, by hi» aoisiness when any other, road usern happen to be in his way, and by hin eomplete lack of motoring mannert^j He is the road-hog and will not bt! protected by any 'closed season' dur* ing the holidays. "At the other end of the scale," said the Minister, "is the 'traffic-snail,' tho very slow driver who frequently clings tenaciously to the centre of the road,.. and whose crawling paae causes other traffic to pile up behind. In congested traffic other cars cannot pass safely be-: cause of bends and traffic approaching from the opposite direction. At last someone becomes impatient, and, fretting" and fuming to get on, pulls out of the iine and makes a dash for an open-! ing ahead. He misses and is caught committing the unpardonable sin of overtaking on a bend or on the wrong side of the road. If a car is an older and mueh slower model than the one behind, or if the driver is nervous, ifct is his or her duty to keep as far as is: practicable to the left and allow tho faster vehicles to get past. It is no * more courteous to block traffic than to block a busy shop doorway. "Last Christmas was marred "by ea abnormal series of accidents, many of them fatal, and many caused by cars running off the road, ' ' said Mr. Semple.i "The extraordinary registration ofj aew cars recently, and the big increass' In the number of new drivers intro*j ■ iuces a risk this year that was not! " present to anything like the saine ex-i ;ent last year. The driver of a newl high-powered car does not alwayd appreciate the pace at which he xw travelling until a sudden emergencyj confronts him. If he is fairly new to the road or is fatigued, if the car is heavily laden or the road surface is slippery, he may brake heavily, with the result that the car skids off tho road, capsizes, or strikes an oncoming sar. A quarter of all accidents last kolidays were of this type. The moral is: Adapt your speed to the road and keep a good margin for safety. And in regard to fatigue a precaution is tn stop for five minutes every hour or so ind have a breather. . Above all, do aot hurry in congested traffic." , Venturesome Motor-Cyclists. "The young and venturesome motor^ jyclists will be a special problem tkeso aolidays," said Mr. Semple. "While oue ippreciates from a young man's point jf view the exhilaration of motor-cyela cravel, one cannot allow young men to be as irresponsible as some have been recently. The inspectors will be keeping a specially watchful eye over motor* syclists these holidays. I would appeal! to motor-cyclists, however) to think not; only of themselves, but of others to whom they inay be dear. And as well they should think of other road users. "Motorists must reineinber that bi« eyclists have a right to the road, but bicyelists on the other hand must not indulge in any kind of carcless riding. ' 'Owing to the holiday danger of the open road, especially at night time, pedestrians will be well advised, if there is no footpath available, to walk t'aeing oncoming traffic. Christmas and Kew Year's Eve are the most danger>us periods for pedestrians in the wholo rear. The season 's festive celebrations no, doubt play a part. To motorists and pedestrians I would say: If you want to be merry on Christmas Eve, as a motorist or pedestrian, keep off the road. In view of the school holidays, motorists must also look out for school children, and paTents should do all they can to keep their children away from busy traffic. Three fatal level crossing accidents have occurred iu ten days. Roadusers must also look out for holiday trains. "The North and South Island Motor Unions have formulated an exeellent holiday code for the motorist," said Mr. Semple. "The motor unions urge motorists to set out with the express iutention of not having an aceident, to drive caref ully ' and to exercise that '.ourtesy and consideration for other road users which they would like shown to themselves. 1 appeal to all road users to adopt these ruies, which arei summed up in the words "Care and Courtesy.*' ' I wish all road users an enjoyable holiday, a Merry Christmas, and a saf« and happy New Year.