SAFETY MEASURES

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 104, 4 May 1935, Page 36

SAFETY MEASURES

FRANCE AND BRITAIN

INTERESTING COMPARISON

A writer in the "Manchester Guardian has been delving into statistics with the object of proving what is a general opinion among British motorists, that accidents in France are less frequent than accidents in Britain He gives the following table:—

He mentions regarding Paris that since 1929 the number of accidents has declined by some 30 per cent, despite an increase in the number of cars. This decline is attributed to the pedes-

trians' crossings (which were introduced in 1929 and of which there are now about 12.000)--erossings which, it is claimed, had a remarkable disciplining effect on both motorists and pedestrians.

The development of motoring since the war has been almost identical in France and Great Britain, and this renders comparisons particularly easy. There were in France in 1933 1,385.000 passenger cars, 449,000 commercial vehicles.. and 524,000 motor-cycles. In Britain, in the same year, there were aboUt 1,300,000 passenger cars, over 400,000 commercial vehicles, and 540,000 motor-cycles. Since then the increase has been a little faster in Britain than ! in. France; but in examining accident I statistics in the two countries one may accept the number of motor vehicles lin France and Britain as having been practically-the same, during the past ten or twelve years. A difference of 100,000 one way or another does not matter, he says. ■•"•'■

Speculating as to causes he includes the question of driving licences. Almost from the beginning of motoring! every prospective motorist in France had. to pass; a severe test before obtaining a driving licence. If he failed once he could try again in eight days; if he failed again he-had-to practise for another month before being admitted to. the next test; and if he failed the third time he had to wait a year before getting another chance of qualifying for a licence. This system is ■ still in' force, and is becoming, if anything, stiffer every year.

France. 1926 2,160 1927 2,379 1928 2,941 1929 ........ 3,717 1930 4,061 1931 4.121 1932 4,260 1933 ........ 4,505 Gt. Britain. 4,886 5,329 6,138 6,696 7,305 6,691 8,667 7,125