It's summertime in beautiful Tauranga. No wonder the kids can't relate to us ...
Andy Craw (65 years old)
Tauranga
Roading rethink needed
Sonya Bateson's recent editorial on the safety of the Tauranga Katikati Rd has many good points, but I do take issue with her belief that side barriers are always helpful.
I am appalled at the proliferation of left-hand side fences and barriers on this road and the Matamata towards Auckland straights.
My belief is that one should always do anything to avoid a head-on collision, and that means going left and taking to the scrub if necessary, notwithstanding other risks.
These side barriers prevent me from taking evasive action. They also mean that oncoming traffic which is (mostly) silly enough and sometimes unlucky enough to go off the road to their left, will now be bounced back into my path as an innocent oncoming vehicle.
Further, the side fences tend to "narrow" the road. There is nowhere to pull over if your car breaks down or a child is sick. Stopping as far left as possible means left-hand doors cannot be opened.
Past side barrier practices have usually been sensible
My view is that if someone is going to go off the road through usually incompetent driving, the sooner they do so the better for the safety of others. This sounds harsh but that is what real life is about. Similarly, I do not favour rumble strips on the left with the additional reason that it encourages drivers to stay closer to the centre line.
I recall about 50 years ago that the painting of white lines on the left-hand side of the road resulted in a major improvement in keeping drivers away from the centre of the road.
Don't fence me in.
Bill Capamagian
Tauranga
