TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1938, Page 5

TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

COUNTY COUNCILLORS’ VIEWS. PROPOSED RULE FOR MINOR SIDE ROADS. “I don’t think the Transport Department is going the right way about this sort of thing,” said Councillor W. I. Armstrong at yesterday’s meeting of the Masterton County Council, referring to a proposed traffic sign suggested by the Transport Department, designed for use at certain intersections, When he was in Australia the councillor said, every car coming out of a byroad stopped before going out on to the main highway. That was what should be done in New Zealand. “I think you are right,” observed Councillor G. Moore.

Councillor Armstrong added that if this procedure were adopted it would prevent accidents and make people more careful.

“If you are not careful you will have too many regulations,” said the chairman, Mr R. E. Gordon Lee. The Transport Department proposed the erection of a traffic sign at the intersection of roads of minor importance, carrying a very limited amount of traffic and entering densely-traffick-ed main highways, and limiting the speed of vehicles emerging from the side road to ten miles an hour. The rule requiring vehicles to give way to traffic from the right where such traffic was proceeding straight ahead would still apply. Councillors expressed various opinions on the proposal, a motion being carried to .the effect that the council agreed with the principle, but expressed the view that if too many regulations were adopted it would be confusing to motorists. The suggestion was made that the words "major road ahead” should be placed on the sign in accordance with the practice in England, and it was thought advisable to point out that the continued operation of the right hand rule would bring about some degree of confusion if the proposal were adopted as had been suggested. Councillors appeared to be more or less of the opinion that sooner or later it would be found expedient to abolish the right-hand rule.