CAUSE OF MISHAPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 146, 22 June 1937, Page 18

CAUSE OF MISHAPS.

FAST DRIVERS?

" SPEED HOT DANGEROUS."

/MUCH POOR JCFBGMENT.

- V In Jfrl : =-K. JA; Laird's address on tfle problem, a summary of which was published in these columns recently, "W.H.M." writes disclaimtyg A|r. Laird's/-.assertion that.; speed ife "the primary cause bf all traffic accidents. The' correspondent- -claims that the motor accident figures prove that speed is not the main cause of accidents, and that actually it takes third place in 15 per cent of the accident* enumerated. "It is- disastroirtpto men of experience, |gppi'^iraflic officials, have stupid formula for yeathat fthey are more or less' respomitiife condition# in that the problem real thought, and ,&ayie not stated or attacked'; trae i Aftise of accidents," he writes. " "Every motorist knows that speed in itself is not dangerous. It. is also a fact that the desire for speed will never be curbed. (Speed, of course, can be anything from 10 m.p.b.) A glance tit the reasons for accidents published in the 'Star' will show the following in round figures: Failure to give way, 25 per cent.; incorrect side of road, 30 per cent; cuttingcorners, 10 per cent; over>taking and cutting :-In, 10 . .per'Stents ; Jf'Tfccse iigui'es, then, must show the . faults which contribute to'.the greatest number of accidents. In my opinion the faults can be listed as follows: Poor judgment, carelessness, intolerance < or lack of consideration. If a driver is unable to exercise good judgment, care and consideration, what right has he to a ljpeupc ? r How often have motorists had thVneed of these desirable Equalities p6inte<r out .l r - v «ry dfiVer is -capable of improving l along.-these lines ■providing he receives the necessary education; but to be continually attacked on the score of speed is almost useless. Every driver will drive fast at times. He knows tliat,/it is not dangerous unless, lie tune^sciou'siy) makes a faulty judgment, or is careless or inconsiderate. "Further, if he has the aforementioned good qualities well developed he will not jieed to worry about interpreting our laws, because he will be truly a safe driver."