Auto Gossip

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30952, 7 January 1966, Page 7

Auto Gossip

by

A.J.P.

Red Flag Nothing seems to produce so many emotional outbursts as mention of the "road toll.” Most of the critics would do road safety a far greater service by striving to improve their own road behaviour rather than devoting their time to criticising others—and this applies to all of us. drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestians. Not Funny Recently one writer accused the Transport Department of “abysmal failure.” He then attacked the Commissioner of Transport for saying carelessness was the cause of many accidents —which it undoubtedly is—and said wilful lawbreaking was the sole cause of most accidents. Accidents happen to ordinary people, and mostly because of a lack of attention and care—certainly not because of “wilful” (which according to the Oxford Dictionary means “ . . . for which compulsion or ignorance or accident cannot be pleaded . . . intentional, deliberate, due to peversity or self-will . . .”) intention to break the law.

Demon Speed

Another writer states “Speed is the cause of 90 per

cent of accidents.” But official statistics show that the majority of accidents occur at less than 40 miles an hour. I am sure the authorities would be interested to see the reports and statistics on which this writer bases his statement. Justice? The ssime writer goes on to say drunken drivers should be disqualified for life and fined £lOOO as a minimum penalty. Does the intoxicated driver deserve the possibility of having his family bankrupt and his life nearly ruined? Should a drunken driver be treated more harshly than a person who “beats up” an old woman, steals large amounts or commits any of dozens of other serious crimes? Valuable Film Another writer makes the statement that “all we have had by way of remedy has been talk, advice, warnings, a stupid foreign television film, etc., all of which I doubt has resulted in one fewer dented mudguard.” This comment overlooks all the enforcement, the road engineering and the positive effort that has been made, and is being made, for road safety. And that "stupid foreign film” was one of the

most valuable contributions New Zealand television has yet made to road safety Resolution I suggest road users of every kind make one New Year resolution: criticise others less, and try to improve your own behaviour. Show more courtesy, more respect and care for the other I fellow. The increase in road I accidents is by no means conI fined to New Zealand, nor is it attributable to any one factor. If it were, the remedy would be easy. Accidents happen to ordinary ]>ersons. usually because they, or 1 others, have failed to pay sufficient attention or exercise sufficient care. There will always be accidents, but we can reduce the number greatly if we all use a bit more common sense, courtesy, and concentration. Quote of the Week i “Often the worst driving on (the roads is by spectators (leaving a car or cycle race | meeting. They try to emulate (the driving on the track, (overlooking the fact there is no opposing traffic coming the other way on a race track and that racing drivers are infinitely better drivers than they'are.”—The Commissioner of Transport (Mr R. J. Polaschek).

Daf Plans.— The Dutch Daf car firm is to open a plant in Belgium. Both cars and heavy vehicles will be produced on the 100-acre site.