ROAD SAFETY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 75, 30 March 1939, Page 5

ROAD SAFETY

NEW PROPOSALS

MOTOR-CYCLISTS' CASE

MEETING HELD

Between 70 and 80 motor-cyclists, representatives of the trade, and others interested attended the meeting called last night by the Manx and Ixion Motor-cycle Clubs to discuss the proposed regulations against motorcyclists. Mr. Frank Jones, president of the New Zealand Auto-cycle Union, presided. Among those present were Miss M. Magill, a member of the Road Safety Council, and Mr. A. F. T. Chorlton, jun., representing the Transport Department. The question of whether there should be a speed limit for pillion riding provoked a good deal of discussion. It was decided to recommend that there be no speed limit for a fully licensed rider carrying a pillion passenger. Other recommendations were made as follows: — 1. That L plates and L licences be carried by learners for three months during which no pillion riding will be permitted and a speed limit of 40 miles per hour must be observed. 2. That a* uniform test for learners after three months be conducted throughout New Zealand. 3. That any offender convicted of a serious traffic offence be ordered to carry an R plate, the 40-miles-an-hour limit to apply, and the period during which this plate shall be carried to be at the discretion of the Magistrate. 4. Parents or guardians to give consent before transfer of ownership to boys under 19. 5. Stricter enforcement of present regulations in built-up areas. 6. Power to be given to refuse warrant of fitness of motor-cycles when canvas of tyres is showing. 7. Regulations for more effective silencing of machines. 8. Road safety educational work to be increased. 9. That this lueeting favours a uniform and stricter test for all classes of motor-vehicle users. NO CHANCE OF REPRESENTATION. Mr. Jones said that from what he had been able to gather there was ho prospect, at the present time at any rate, of a direct representative of the motor-cyclists being appointed to the Road Safety Council. Moreover, since the meeting last week, it had been pointed out to him that members of the council were not appointed to represent any one section. Mr. T. Wilkinson said he thought that the motor-cyclists, nevertheless, should try to obtain direct representation, and a motion by him to this effect, seconded by Mr. P. J. Boyle and recommending Mr. G. Stock as the motor-cyclists' representative, "was passed. Mr. George Stock, manufacturers' representative, contended that a motorcycle, properly used, was as safe a vehicle as there was on the road, and) the vehicle which could cause least annoyance. Moreover, it was one of the most economic and mobile, forms of transport. The motor-cycle also had a part in any scheme of. defence. Why was it that there was all this discussion about motor-cyclists? The answer was simply that not always were motor-cycles ridden with due respect to the road code and the riders' fellow-beings. "NOT GIVEN A FAIR GO." Mr. T. Wilkinson said he did not think the proposed speed restriction against motor-cyclists on the main highways was warranted. He said he thought that some borough councillors were apt to confuse the noise pf exhausts with speed, although, this trouble had been greatly reduced in Wellington. It was not the speed of motor-cyclists that was causing the accidents. He contended that the motor-cars were not giving motorcyclists "a fair go." Mr. Chorlton said he wished to make it clear that no recommendation was going forward for a speed limit for solo riding: it was a speed restriction for pillion riding that was suggested. Mr. F. Spencer, who said he had had 22 years' experience of motor-cycling, claimed that there were points in respect to motor-cars that were worthy of the attention of the authorities, such as, for instance, the speed some cars were driven at corners, the view drivers had of the road having regard to the position of the wind-screen wiper and the door posts. He said he thought also that many of the roads were not wide enough, and that there were motorists who practised snobbery against the motor-cyclist. Traffic officers, too, he contended, were inclined to keep a more watchful eye on motorcyclists than on some other road users. CO-OPERATION SOUGHT. Invited to address the meeting, Mr. Chorlton said that the Transport Department and the Minister wanted to co-operate to the greatest possible extent with the motor-cyclists. The Minister had had a great deal of experience of motor-cycling, probably more than anyone present. The Minister definitely did not want to do anything unduly restrictive, and the attitude of the Transport Department was that the fewer the restrictions the better, because more restrictions only meant more difficulty of enforcement. The Department desired to have the views of motor-cyclists which might enable it to tackle the irresponsible minority. An isolated attack was not being made on motor-cyclists. Other road users who were irresponsible were going to receive all the attention they deserved.

The Department would say without hesitation that the irresponsible motorist was to blame for a large number of accidents involving motor-cyclists.

Miss Magill said she agreed with Mr. Chorlton that it was not the desire of the Road Safety Council to be unduly restrictive. Its object was to bring about safety on the roads. There was no question of condemning one class of road user.