TRAFFIC CONTROL

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 311, 17 December 1936, Page 5

TRAFFIC CONTROL

NEW REGULATIONS. LIGHTS AND BRAKES Every Householder To See New Code. Press Association —'Copyright. Christchurch, Last Night. The sending to every home in the Dominion of a copy of the new code of traffic regulations and the appending of a similar copy to every motor driver’s license issued next year are innovations proposed by the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple.

A Wellington message says that road traffic regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act and its amendments were approved by .the Executive Council yesterday. There are several new regulations rela.mg to all classes of vehicles under the following five headings: General: motor vehicles; bicycles; general vehicle, traffic; pedestrians. The regulations will become law next Monday. The section dealing with pedes-

trians sets out rules to be observed in crossing roc d way a arid, passing waiting trams, Not only' must crossings be made at right angles, but right of way must be yielded to motor vehicles on the roadway. A breach of these regulations renders the offender liable to a fine of £2. The parking regulations contain a provision that no vehicle shall be parked on the off side of any other slopped vehicle. Drivers may plead in defence, however, that they loading or unloading a vehicle in the course of trade or that they stopped in such a position ivcaiise oi trtdlic signs. Headlights must he focussed so that under all conditions they' meet a horizontal road surface at a distance not more than 200 feet ahead, and the main beams must converge at Hie same distance, 'file rear red light must, be visible for at least 300 feet to the rear. Trailers are to be taken into consideration when reckoning the distance, in which brakes arc effective. After March 31, 1937, motor vehicles other than motor cycles must be equipped with windscreen wipers. No ornament or decoration that is likely

to cause injury to a person with whom the vehicle- collides may be carried. Provision is made for a warrant of fifitness of a vehicle to be carried, the fee for which will be five shillings. Among the exemptions from this clause are vehicles used to carry for hire. A vehicle and its load must not rise to a height of more than 14 feet, from the ground. Silencers on motor cycles must lie effective and proof against, interference with their working. It is specified drivers must be travelling at a. speed that will enable them to stop within half the length of clear roadway visible in front. Drivers may' plead in defence, however, that .the vehicle was -travelling behind another, up to which the roadway was clear, and that the defend-ant's-speed was such that he could stop short of .the other vehicle m the event of a sudden stop by the latter. Breaches of these regulations carry a maximum penalty of £5O.

Tear Gas and Machine-guns To Capture Bandit. Press Association—Copyright. Now York, December 15. “G Men” co-operating with the police to-day poured -tear-gas and machine-gun bullms for an hour into a West 102 Street Hat near Riverside Drive, where they' learned Harry Bi unt ile, a young Mid-Western robber, was hiding, until the latter, after his ammunition was exhausted, surrendered. His wife, who loaded revolvers while lie fought the raiders, was slightly wounded. The flat -was destroyed by lire. limnetic is roporled Io be one of America's most vicious bandits. » Death Sentence Commuted To Imprisonment. 6 Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, December IG. Cabinet yesterday commuted the death sentence on Maurice Auld to life imprisonment. Al the criminal court on September ■> Auld, aged 27. years, a labourer, was convicted and sentenced to dcalh for Hie murder of Mary Deas, aged 70 years, at Hornsby last May. The evidence disclosed Ilia' Auld savagely' assaulted the woman, who lived in a but. in a lonely spot in an outer suburb, and robbed her of. ;C5 10s, her injuries causing death. Auld declared that the crime was due to drink and expressed deep i egret that the woman died. The jury recommended him to mercy.