DANGEROUS PRACTICE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 17, 14 October 1927, Page 12

DANGEROUS PRACTICE

LOCKING PASSENGERS IN MOTOR TAXIS.

Sir, —The sudden tragic burning of six people in a motor-car on their way to a wedding at Hamilton, as reported in yesterdi/s Dominion, is a matter of more than local or passing interest. The telegraphed account of the accident states that the front part of tho car burst into flames, and instantly the whole vehicle was enveloped. Every member of the party was burned more or less seriously, and the three ladies m the back seat very gravely. The driver and another man in front got out quickly, and were tho least injured, but the third man in front, being unable to open the door on his side, was very seriously injured, and is also in a critical state.

Aly solo object in writing is to draw attention to tho highly dangerous and unjustifiable practice which has grown up in Wellington in tho case of some taxis plying for hire of locking up the passengers in the back portion of the car. The time taken tip by the chauffeur stopping his car, getting himself out, and finding his way round to the back and liberating the passengers in tho rear of the car is always considerable. Indeed, the interval is so long that I have always felt passengers must inevitably be burned very seriously before t hey could be succoured if the car were to catch fire suddenly and burst into Hames, as described in the Waikato accident.

The local authorities ought surely to make a by-law forbidding the locking up of passengers in taxis, as involving a risk which is far too great to bo tolerated. Hotels are not in,the habit of locking their guests in the bedrooms.— I am, etc., SAFETY FIRST. October 13.