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LETTERSOPINION POLLIn the autumn issue of AA Directionswe asked: Do you support roadsidetesting for drugged drivers?EYES SAVE LIVESThank you to the AA for extendingthe offer of free Specsavers eye teststo Members every two years.I visited my local Specsavers StLukes store to get what I expectedwould be a routine eye test. Theoptometrist immediately referred meto a specialist and within a matterof days I was having surgery for abrain tumour!I simply could not believe that thiswas happening to me and that aneye test was the red flag that savedmy life.I am urging all of your readers totake up the free eye test offer – evenif they don’t think they need it.A big thank you to the AA and toSpecsavers.MARIE STRINGER – AUCKLANDELECTRICAL SAFETYI see that you have bought intothe story that electric cars are notsafe for pedestrians. Commonobservation shows that the modernpetrol car is also silent, and thatthe noise you hear comes from thetyres when the car is moving quicklyenough. So, why pick on electriccars? They are at least twice asenergy efficient as the best oil-fueldriven cars, so we should be pushingfor their acceptance – especially inNew Zealand.W N TUCKER – AUCKLAND97%YES3%NOThis issue’s poll question: Do youthink private parking operators shouldbe allowed to set their own fines?To vote, go to www.aadirections.co.nzREFRESH YOURSELFEighteen months ago I had amotorcycle crash and spent threemonths recuperating. Since thattime, I haven’t been allowed to drive.The ACC has been fantastic withcare – the latest help has been fivedriver training sessions. Hopefully,I will soon be allowed behind thesteering wheel again.I think it is an excellent idea forall drivers to undergo a refresherdriving course. Relearn the roadrules. As we get older, we get blaséabout our driving habits.TED GREENWOOD – WHANGAREIVIEW FROM BEHINDWhy don’t cyclists use rear visionmirrors? Cars, trucks, motor scooters,motorbikes and even mobilityscooters have them. Why notbicycles?JAMES MARX – PAPAMOAFACE FIRSTI would like to suggest that wherethere are cycle lanes, cyclists usethe right hand side of the road,so that they are facing oncomingtraffic. They would not have vehiclesdriving up behind them nor woulddrivers open their car doors withoutseeing them, as the cycle trafficwould be facing them. This seems amuch safer option.ISOBEL SHADBOLT – NAPIERDUNG DILEMMAI would like to alert AA Members tothe possible dangers of passing stocktrucks on bends.While travelling on SH3 fromWanganui, I followed a stock truckand trailer. As I moved into a passinglane to overtake, doing 100 km/h, mywindscreen was blasted with effluent.The shock paralysed me for a splitsecond, but I activated the wipersand found myself heading intooncoming traffic. I can only say that Iavoided being killed due to my pastPolice driver’s training.I reported the details to thePolice, but they did not take action.I reported to the truck’s dispatcherand was informed that it’s anongoing problem. Trucks have nomeans of dumping effluent betweenPalmerston North and Feilding. Incases where a truck’s holding tank isfull, there is the risk, when travellingfast around sharp bends, thateffluent can be thrown out.I believe it is a design fault.Measures need to be taken urgentlyby the stock transport industry torectify the problem.TONY WARD – PALMERSTON NORTHWe welcome feedback and views on articles in AA Directions, and on any issues affecting motorists. Because of the volume of mail we receive,letters cannot be personally acknowledged. Only a selection can be published and they may be edited or abbreviated for print.WRITE TO: The Editor, AA Directions, PO Box 5, Auckland, 1140 or email editor@aa.co.nzwww.aadirections.co.nz 9