Take the Stand
| Date | 01 January 1957 |
| Author | Noel Brett Young |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X5703000110 |
| Published date | 01 January 1957 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
TAKE
THE
STAND 57
who is on the major road,
but
if two roads appear
to
be of equal
importance motorists on
both
of them will cling tenaciously to the
belief that the other fellow should give way, with the resultant crop
of collisions.
There would also appear to be a need for a rule of precedence
at
traffic roundabouts, for at some of them there is now a "free-for-all"
scramble. Admittedly, the framing of such a rule would be very difficult,
owing to the variety of ways in which roads enter roundabouts.
For
instance, sometimes a main road runs straight past a
roundabout
without deviating, and motorists travelling along it consider that they
have the right-of-way. Their vehicles not infrequently collide with
those already circulating on the roundabout, whose drivers consider
that
they have the right-of-way.
The condition of many road surfaces also leaves much to be desired.
In his traditional role of "street-keeper" aconstable should report to
the appropriate department the existence of pot-holes and subsidences
in roads, but these have become so numerous that the puzzled con-
stable does not know where to
begin-and,
therefore, generally does
not. On some roads one finds that the centre portion has a good
macadam surface, whereas on each side there are uneven stone setts,
with the inevitable result that motorists travelling in both directions
all hug the crown of the road. Economy may be achieved here,
but
we
have to pay for it by damage to vehicles and injuries to persons.
When roads are under repair there is sometimes a failure on the
part
of
the contractor to ensure that adequate temporary traffic arrange-
ments are made, and vehicular traffic is left to fend for itself. Again,
there is a tendency for the workmen to deprive road users of precious
road space by unnecessarily leaving such things as wheelbarrows
and
tools thereon. There is also much slackness in leaving such signs as
"Roadworks Ahead" on the highway at week-ends when, in fact, no
work is in progress.
It
is the old story of calling "Wolf."
Lastly, although there has been a considerable improvement in
street lighting latterly, the standard is still low when compared with
advances made in various scientific fields. One would think that by
now, under normal conditions, the lighting would be equal to daylight.
Take the Stand
By
SUPERINTENDENT
NOEL
BRETT
YOUNG,
Devon Constabulary.
YOU R witness is usually, taken by
and
large, as representative a
member of the community as any.
It
raineth upon the just and
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