PILLION RIDING

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 86, 8 October 1935, Page 7

PILLION RIDING

PROHIBITION SOUGHT

The great danger associated with pillion riding was stressed by the executive committee of the Automobile Association (Wellington) last night. The women's division of the Ne\* Zealand Farmers' Union wrote stating that at the recent Dominion' conference a resolution was passed asking automobile associations to take steps to have pillion riding on motor-cycles prohibited. Mr. E. Palliser said that when thd question was last discussed by the association it was agreed that so long as the. pillion rider was astride of the seat there was not the same risk. The secretary (Mr. W. A., Suthet* land) said it was a remarkable thing that in most motor-cycle .accidents the pillion rider was generally . killed. Although the person on the pillion might be an experienced ■ rider,, he could not observe danger, and'could not balance himself at the same time as the driver. That being so,, both persona could not act in unison to avert danger. "YOUNG PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN AGE." "I think the whole trouble is the fact that the motorcycle appeals to young people of a certain age only, and at an age when they are more or less irre sponsible," said the chairman (Mr. E. A. Batt). "It is speed that causes_ the trouble every time. It is hair-raising to see ainotor-cycje with a girl on the pillion tearing along the road. Ninety nine per cent, of motor-cyclists are young people who. take .risks a. more mature person would not take." ■•'. Mr. H. Clere: It certainly is a most worrying thing to have a boy who owns a motor-cycle. .... It was decided to reply stating thai the matter would be brought before the North Island Motor Union with the request that that body place it before the South Island Union. Mr. Batt pointed out that the question was * Dominion-wide one, - . .. . .