FIRE ENGINE MOTORS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 670, 24 October 1933, Page 6

FIRE ENGINE MOTORS

HAVE THEY PRIOR RIGHT OF THE ROAD A MIOTORIST PROTEST Palmerston N., Srt. The question of the rights of fire engines speeding to answer a call was discussed by the executive of the Manawatu Automobile Association at its meeting last evening, when particular reference was made to th'e case •of a memberj of the association who xecently had his vehicle damag.ed by a fire ■enign-ne at a street intersection. The general feeling was that, although privilege wa.s demanded by the Ui.^ cncy of the casc, civilian motoris! should be accorded some adequate proteetion. Mr. H. E. Edrnunds, who raised the question, said the vehicle had been drawn up two feet from the kerb and had yet been hit. As far as be knew the new regulaticns provided that the fire engine had tne ahsolute right of ithe road. It could cross from side to side, "jump poached eggs,'* and, in fact, do anything it likt d on the road. ti sueh' things were, allowed to go ton then the law which permitted them was one of the most shocking on the Statute Book. Mr. J. Hodgens said that the superintendent had given an assurance to ■the Fire Board that the engine had maintained its position on the correct side of the road. 'Mr. lEdimiunds affirmed that the marks lat the corner would disprove this utterly. The chairmau (Mr. N. II. Mackie) said that the North Island Motor Unioii executive. had already discussed the matter, and he understood that the Transport Department would be ■asked to give it earnest attention. The comimittee, while rsalising that it was not desirable to place any untoward restrictions on fire engincs speeding to fires, felt that circumstances required some sort of control for the salce of public security. iMJr. Edrnunds said it would never do to give the fire engines the unrestricted passage through the ■streets that was enjoyed by the police patrols in Sydney. fAftier fujrther discussion the iassoeiation decided to see what was the position obtaining in Ausferalia before it took further action.