Crime On The Roads

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30820, 4 August 1965, Page 16

Crime On The Roads

Sir, —Seth Newell writes: “The slow obstructive driver causes more accidents than the moderate drinker.” Is his opinion formed by facts? Can he be sure that the slow driver is not a moderate drinker? Dr. W. H. B. Bull told the Road Safety Council last year that an early stage of the effect of alcohol was to produce a shift of the main driving position away from the left side towards the crown of the road. In his testing of the relation of alcohol to driving skills, Professor G. C. Drew, of London University, tells of one woman who averaged 30 miles an hour on the tests without alcohol, drove extremely accurately after two pints of beer—but never exceeded eight miles an hour! Playing off the dawdler against the drinker is a dubious pastime. Beyond reasonable doubt is the fact that driving behaviour begins to deteriorate as soon as there is any alcohol at all in the blood, speed or no speed.—Yours, etc., PHILLIP RAMSAY. August 3, 1965.

Sir,—As a member of the internationally-known Company of Veteran Motorists (whose objective is road care, safety, and courtesy) I receive their periodical published in London. The June issue reports: “The French police were out over Easter recommending that drivers, to reduce hold-ups, should travel at not less than 45 m.p.h.” Traffic authorities and police are dealing continually with the worst type and most irresponsible of road user, and this naturally colours their outlook regarding speed. The fact remains that statistics have been published showing that most accidents occur at about 30 m.p.h. Piston speeds and road speeds have soared during the 57 years that I have been driving. With the expected improvements in equipment, driving ability, and techniques, also roadways, speeds wil] inevitably increase. Eventually engineers will provide us with a road speed that will enable us to lift and skim, instead of wearing out tvres.—Yours, etc., SETH NEWELL. August 3, 1965.

Sir, —We can do with less of the verve Seth Newell “admires.” A word of French origin, roughly translatable

as “inspiration,” it smacks of Parisian taxi-drivers. An inset on this page on Monday quoted Viscount Montgomery as follows: “We are not French: we are British—thank God.” Verve is fine in jockeys and fighter pilots, but I would hate to be driven with verve down the Buller Gorge or even Riccarton road. It should join “swerve” and “curve” on the danger list, especially when it is coming in opposite directions.— Yours, etc., PEGASUS. August 3, 1965.