Crime On The Roads

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30803, 15 July 1965, Page 14

Crime On The Roads

Sir,—Tom Bryce is not the only one to have had hairraising experiences on a pedestrian crossing. On Monday afternoon, with others, 1 was waiting for the light to cross High street. A traffic officer was watching us with a stern gaze. At the moment we were bidden to “cross now” he turned away and two large cars shot out of the “bottle neck” and did we have a narrow escape? Less than an hour later, at the crossing to the Post Office, a number of cars and vans gave the right of way to a group of “mums” and their children We were within feet of safety when a secondary school boy on a light motor-cycle shot past like a rocket. Our guardian angel must have been on duty, well and truly These are by no means isolated cases. They happen every day. On Saturday and Sunday evenings the Square is a motoring madhouse. The police do an excellent job; all honour to them.—Yours, etc., LOOK OUT.

July 14, 1965. Sir,—The remarks of the Commissioner of Transport (Mr R. J. Polascheck) confuse me. He admits that young drivers may be involved in more accidents (insurance companies seem to have no doubts) and yet he lauds road safety instruction. He claims that the benefit from such education will not be felt for years. A strange remark. Before the war, as a primary school child, I received such instruction from a uniformed traffic officer. All the driver improvement lectures, advertisements, posters, films, and education campaigns are a waste of time. Driving is (a) a skill. A skill is taught by' doing Driving is (b) an attitude of mind. A percentage of drivers are irresponsible, stupid, neurotic, drunk, and physically below par. Tests and instruments could eliminate such people. Unfortunately, public opinion accepts the present loss when weighed against freedom of the individual, personal convenience, and belief in notinvolvement.—Yours, etc., CYCLIST. July 13, 1965.