CRASH HELMETS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27405, 19 July 1954, Page 2

CRASH HELMETS

Move For Compulsory Wearing PROTEST BY AUTO-CYCLE UNION A protest against compulsory wearing of crash helmets by motor-cyclists, as recommended by the Road Safety Council, was made by the New Zealand Auto Cycle Union at its annual conference on Saturday after Mr T. R. McCleary, the union’s representative on the council, had urged that the proposal be supported. Until motor-cyclists wore helmets the road accident rate would not go down, said Mr McCleary, speaking on a remit from the Auckland Motor-cycle Club that a protest be made. * ‘lf we can save lives through compulsion, I’m for it,” he said. ”The whole thing boils down to riders riding in a proper manner; what is wanted is proper tuition in motor-cycling,” said Mr P. Coleman. “Speed in the wrong place makes safety helmets useless. They create a false sense of security; they make them feel they are racing men, and away they go.” “We are being made the scapegoats for motor accidents in New Zealand.” said Mr J. P. Porter, of Auckland. “We have got to watch our interests not to be told what we are to wear,” he said in proposing the remit. Mr McCleary said that doubt had been cast on the helmet approved by the British Standards Institute, which the Transport Department proposed to adopt. A design proposed by the union had not been adopted. At a meeting of the Road Safety Council he had conceded that the compulsory wearing of helmets be recommended for speeds In excess of 30 • miles an hour. * i The motion that the union protest 5 against the compulsory wearing of , helmets was passed with Mr McCleary and one other delegate dissenting.

WOMEN MOTORCYCLISTS IN RACE ADMISSION APPROVED BY AUTO-CYCLE UNION Women will be permitted to ride in all racing and sporting motor-cycle events conducted by the New Zealand Auto Cycle Union. The admission of women riders in races was discussed at the union’s annual conference on Saturday. An injury to a woman in a beach or road race would receive adverse publicity, said Mr D. Soanes, of the Pioneer Motor Club, proposing a remit excluding women riders from these events. “Women riders are proving they can hold their own against the men riders.” said Mr F. W. Yeates. •’Women riders have put up credittable performances. They have sometimes put up better times than men in miniature T.T. events and scrambles,” said Mr T. R. McCleary. The remit was lost, and after discussion on limiting women riders to certain classes, a second remit permitting their competition in all events was carried. The conference approved a remit to prohibit riding in road or beach races in a prone position with feet .off foot rests. Several delegates said that, the practice was dangerous in close company, and the loss of control was unsafe. Mr Soanes said the rule would not affect riders who had adjusted foot and knee rests on their machines accordingly.

MAYOR’S PRAISE FOR AUTO-CYCLE UNION . Motor-cyclists did not justify thi wholesale condemnation that heaped on them from some said the Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) when he opened the annual conference of the New Zealand Auto Cycle Union on Saturday. In educating motor-cyclists, the union had done l a great job. he said, and when the new municipal road safety organisation was completely formed, it was hoped that it would do as milch as the Auto Cycle Union had done. Our competition riders have done a great job in New Zealand and overseas, and are doing a very fine job of publicity for New Zealand,” he said. Mr Macfarlane said that he considered the Transport Department’s plainclothes traffic officer scheme was a good one. and the lowering of the accident rate on the roads had justified its introduction.