ROAD SAFETY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 December 1940, Page 6

ROAD SAFETY

DANGER CAUSED THROUGH CAR DOORS. CERTAIN PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY. “There are still many drivers who lake enormous risks of causing injury to passing cyclists and others through neglect in the manner of opening the right-hand or offside door of the car,” says the latest road safety message of the Wairarapa Automobile Association. “Cyclists are the principal sufferers through collision with car doors suddenly thrown open by motorists. But motorists, too, are subjected to trouble. The modern car door is fairly wide and projects considerably in the path of passing traffic. This projection is a danger in itself, even if other traffic may have a chance of avoiding it, but the danger is multiplied when, without any -warning, a door is suddenly flung wide open in the track of a cyclist or car. Many very nasty accidents have been caused by carelesslyopened doors and the traffic control authorities take a serious view of the question. “While overtaking traffic must be expected to keep a proper lookout and give as wiae a berth as practicable to other vehicles, and even anticipate danger, if possible, the motorist has a very clear and distinct duty to passing traffic in ensuring that his vehicle, or, any part of it does not obstruct or impede the passageway of other traffic. The motorist must, before he opens his car door on the traffic side, make sure that the way is perfectly clear to do so, and that means taking inth account the fact that a cyclist may be hidden in that blind spot, the panel at the rear corner of the car. “Passengers should be taught, and told to alight, from the car on the left or near side. The motorist who js careless with his car door as indicated runs grave risk of serious damage to his car, injury to himself, and possibly prosecution, and he also runs the usk of causing damage to property and injury to others. Play safe with your car door.”