UNIVERSAL MOTOR REGULATIONS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 3 December 1927, Page 13

UNIVERSAL MOTOR REGULATIONS

Sparcity of Criticism

ONLY REASONABLE RULES ARE USEFUL

Suggestions Regarding Blind Corners

CONSIDERING the far-reaching effect of the proposed universal motor regulations which the Public Works Department have drawn up, . extraordinarily little interest appears to be taken in the matter by the motoring public. The Hawke's Bay Automobile Association apparently approved all' the regulations proposed, although, as pointed out in these columns when the draft regulations were first circulated, there are embodied many unnecessary and irksome restrictions on the already over-regulated car owner. CONSTRUCTIVE "DELETING” CRITICISM. The criticism of the North Island Motor Union published in last Saturday’s issue of the “Tribune” certainly suggested the deletion of many clauses which are unnecessary, and the modification of others which were needlessly severe. Yet it appears to have been entirely overlooked that the vast and ever-growing number of motorists are justly entitled to some regulation of the non-motor-ing public which will add to their (the motorists’) safety). DANGEROUS BLIND CORNERS. For instance, the motorists is to be held responsible for accidents occurring at street intersections where he is unable to see ninetyfeet or thereabouts up the side street, and yet no regulation is suggested compelling the owners of these corner sections to cut down their fences and hedges to such a height as to give the poor motorist a reasonably clear view. If one recalls the really serious motor accidents he has seen or heard of, he will be surprised at the number of these which have occurred at road and street intersections, where it was impossible to have a clear view of approaching side traffic. Of course either one or other of the drivers is always accused of reckless driving, not sounding the horn, etc., etc., but seldom, if ever, is the really responsible person blamed — the man who cultivates a high hedge, erects a six-foot iron fence, or grows of clump of trees on the corner which makes the cross-road a veritable death trap. Hawke’s Bay is bristling with such dangerous intersections and further plantings and erection of high fences goes on at such spots unchecked and, apparently by the authorities, unnoticed. MEANDERING CYCLISTS. Then there are the cyclists, frequently schoolboys and girls, who swerve from side to side of the road, taking up as much room as is ordinarily occupied by two cars abreast, giving the motorist many an uneasy doubt as to where their next swerve will bring them. These inconsiderate cyclists ride secure in the knowledge that whatever happens the motorist will be blamed. The day of fast-moving traffic is with us. The owners of motor cars are not all “road hogs” who demand a clear road and push every

one to the sidewalks, but in this age of hurry, they are entitled to equal, if not greater, consideration to that afforded other and slower-moving traffic.

SELF-ENFORCING RULES.

Regarding motor regulations in general, it should be recognised by those framing them, that if they are to be enforced, they must be of such a nature as to appeal to both the pedestrian and the motorist on the basis of their reasonablenes. In other words, they must be self-enforcing traffic ordinances. It is obvious that the police and traffic inspectors are not numerous enough to catch every traffic violator and to enforce every rule. And neither will any educational campaign, however vigorous, bring people to obey rules they know are arbitrary and unreasonable.

The only validity a traffic rule has is to be accepted as custom. Pedestrians as well as motorists will willingly obey signals when they seem reasonable. In many New Zealand towns the speed limit is so ridiculously low that every motorist who passes through is a law-breaker. Such unreasonable limits appear to be designed solely with the object of taking away any defence the motorist may have should he be so unfortunate as to be mixed up in an accident. UNIVERSAL CODES A BOON. One great boon which the universal motor regulations, if adopted, will confer on the Dominion's motor car drivers, is that they will be able to drive blithely from one end of the country to the other without having to learn new traffic codes in every town through which they pass. Absolute hard and fast uniformity, however, has this drawback, that it leaves no room for experimentation. As yet we are only beginning to develop a sound technique of local traffic regulations. We must experiment, and to do this it is necessary to have at least a degree of variation in practice. Our varying by-laws have already afforded us some experience, and it is no doubt on the successful working of these that the present draft regulations are based, but it is to be hoped that the present attempt at uniformity will be moderate, and leave room for further experiment. STIFFER TESTS FOR DRIVERS Rigid examination of motor car drivers before granting a driving licence, appears to be one of the few things that has been overlooked in the new regulations, and yet it is an essential to safety on the roads. When you consider that before the railway authorities will permit an engineer to take charge of an engine, he must serve an apprenticeship of several years and pass a severe test for fitness, is it unreasonable for us to demand that before a motor car driver is given the privilege of controlling a speedy, high-powered machine on our busy highways and city streets, he proves conclusively his ability and presence of mind.