Dangerous Practices

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21909, 9 October 1936, Page 10

Dangerous Practices

The practice commented upon in the latest safety message of the Automobile Association, Canterbury, of cyclists riding too close to or pacing behind motor vehicles is only one of several dangerous practices indulged in by some Christchurch cyclists. Everyone realises that the ultimate responsibility rests with the motorist in the case of accident, and it is only right that that should be so; but the cyclist

should also realise his responsibility as a user of the road and not expose himself -to danger by adopting practices that involve risk to himself of serious injury and risk to the motorist of serious charges. Most of these practices are the result of unthinking carelessness. Though the motorist who drives carelessly or recklessly deserves any severe action that may be taken against him, it should be remembered that his offences are more easily detected. The careless cyclist may be equally blameworthy for causing accidents of which he himself may sometimes escape the consequences. Every Christchurch motorist every day, for instance, finds himself in danger of knocking down a cyclist who fails to signal a right hand turn, so that the sudden swerve a motorist coming behind him has to make leaves the car in danger of collision from any vehicle behind it. The same thing is liable to occur when cyclists cut corners in coming on to a main street or slip by a car on the wrong side while the car is stationary at a tram stop. Careful attention to such matters and correct observation of the rules of the road by cyclists as well as all other users of the streets would lead to making them a great deal safer for all types of traffic.