THE OFF-SIDE RULE.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 160, 25 November 1926, Page 7

THE OFF-SIDE RULE.

This is the off-side 1 rule : The car which has the other vehicle on its right or off-side is required to ' give way on every occasion. . Consequently, every- driver would merely have to become accustomed to two straightforward courses. If the car he meets at a crossing is on his right-hand side he must stop or slow down. If it is on his left he has the right of way and can ignore the other vehicle. At night observance would be facilitated if the cars carried red and green sidelights similar to the running lights of ships. The green is carried on the right. The man who sees the red light has to stop. SIMPLE AND CERTAIN. The rule cannot be criticised on the ground of ambiguity. It is simple and certain, and the most incompetent novice at the wheel could observe it. While’ applicable to all street intersections and crossings, the rule is of particular value when two roads of equal importance or width meet at right angles. There could be no misunderstanding. The arguments in favour of the off-side rule are:— (a) It is logical, insofar that the ( Continued in Next Column.')

rule of the road is to overtake on the right, and to “ give way ” means to be overtaken. (b) It promotes safety, because at any intersection- the first line of traffic which is cut across is that approaching" from the right. (c) It is practical, because the driver’s view to the right is less restricted than to his left. Moreover, travelling on the left of any road, a driver has an earlier view of the traffic coming in from a road on the right than from a road on the left.