“SAFE” ROAD SPEED

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29910, 25 August 1962, Page 13

“SAFE” ROAD SPEED

Many Factors Involved “When the average person asks, 'what is a sale speed?' he expects the answer to be given as a certain number of miles an hour,’’ said the chairman of the Christchurch Metropolitan Road Safety Committee, (Mr N. H. Browne) speaking in support of the current safety campaign against excessive speed. “Actually, no definite speed can always be labelled as safe,” said Mr Browne. “A safe speed can be determined only after consideration of four highly variable factors.

"These factors are weather, the condition of the road and traffic, the condition of the car, and the driver's own physical and mental condition.

"Everyone realises that rain reduces visibility, and wet roads make cars harder to control, but not every driver takes these factors into account when his foot is on the accelerator.” Mr Browne said heavy motor, bicycle, or pedestrian traffic tended to enforce slower driving, yet even in these hazardous conditions, many fatal accidents had occurred because drivers had ignored the need to reduce speed. “Too often, the car with under-par lights or brakes is driven as though it were in first-class condition.” he said. "Probably the single factor which is least generally considered when determining safe speed is the driver's physical and mental condition. The driver who is suffering from a bad headache or extreme fatigue does not react as rapidly to unexpected hazards as does a healthy well-rested man,” Mr Browne said. A worried, nervous or emotionallyupset driver should not travel at the same speed as when he was free from anxiety, he added. Only part of his attention was on the road and the rest was on his troubles.