FIRE ENGINES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 208, 3 September 1935, Page 9

FIRE ENGINES.

SPEED IN CITY.

RARELY EXCEEDS 40 M.P.H.

REPLY TO COMPLAINT.

What is the psychological effect on the pedestrian of the passing of a fire engine through tho streets? Does the pedestrian get an inordinate impression of the speed at which the firelighters are hurrying to answer a call? These questions were raised by an officer of the Auckland brigade when a complaint of excessive, speed and insufficient warning of the Remuera brigade recently the subject of a letter published below— was brought to his notice.

The clang of the bell, the hooting of the siren, the glitter of the brass helmets of the firemen and the equipment and the sciu-ry of the people in the street all help to create an atmosphere of excitement. The brigade sweeping by is a spectacle. It has passed in a few seconds, leaving in its train the impression of a great powerful machine that has swept all before it at a terrific speed. No Legal Restriction. Legally there is no restriction on the speed at which a fire engine may travel. The Fire Board Act says that it must travel "at all possible speed." Neither do the restrictions of the Motor Vehicles Act in regard io speed and the passing of "stationary trams, apply to it; also, it ie incumbent upon other traffic to draw to the side when the warning cry of the approaching engine is heard. However, the Metroi>olitan Fire Board's regulations lay down that the engines must not be driven at over 40 miles an hour and that th/ry must slow down when approaching corners and trams from which people are alighting. A fire engine travelling at 40 miles an hour gives an impression of much greater speed than a modern highpowered car would do making the same speed. The car at 40 miles an hour purrs sweetly along with noiseless effort. The fire engine flashes by as a blaring spectacle. It is only natural then, that a false impression is created as to its speed on a duty in which expedition is the essence. There is more than a burning building and the saving of property at stake. Not infrequently human lives are in danger, too. Consequently the other traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian, must make sacrifices. One Injury in 29 Years. While it was admitted by the superintendent of the City Brigade, Mr. W. L. Wilson, that the engines do, and must, travel as fast as possible, he stated that it was only on exceptional cases that 40 miles an hour was exceeded. Most of the machines could not exceed that speed unless they gathered momentum on a downhill slope or on a fairly long straight stretch. Every regard was had to the public safety and on the way to a fire the siren was sounded continuously. The crew of the engine, it must be remembered, valued their own lives; perched so precariously on the side of the vehicle they did not encourage the driver to speed recklessly. THe "fact that there had been only one pefifetrian' 'injured "during ills* 29"gears' service in Auckland, and that a deaf woman who stepped off a safety zone, was sufficient evidence in itself of the brigade's regard for public safety, he added. <,

Incident at Remuera. The letter which elicited the- above information is as follows:— < • "Chambers of Commerce, the Automobile Association and other bodies have been conferring on the problem of road accidents and the need for enforcing motor regulations in an endeavour to make highways safe, but I have as yet seen no mention of compelling fire engines to travel at a reasonable speed through busy areas. At a tram stop in Remuera this evening {August 29) a young lady, alighting fro'm a stationary tram, very narrowly escaped being knocked down by a passing fire engine, which,, despite the fact that the tram had stopped, made no effort to slow down or even sound the siren to warn the passengers on the tram. It is, of course, desirable that the brigade should reach a fire as quickly as possible, but surely the life of a tram passenger or pedestrian is of as much concern as the putting out of a.fire. The young lady was not to blame in any way and it appears to be high time those responsible realised that the fact that the engine is proceeding to a fire does not justify the utter disregard of persons who may be in the area through which the engine is passing."