KNEES AND THINGS

Evening Star, Issue 23511, 27 February 1940, Page 2

KNEES AND THINGS

TWO’S COMPANY-THREE’S DANGEROUS FEMININE REACTION TO EIAEMSiICY Temperamental idiosyncracies of the fairer sex have been the undoing of many a good man, and according to Chief Inspector Avery they affect the driving of many a good motorist. The particular idiosyncracy to which he referred is rather unusual, and it seems that it is most in evidence in taxis. In any case, it is a major motive for the declaration of the inspector that two passengers on the front seat of a taxi' constitute a danger The local Transport Authority sat yesterday afternoon and listened to lengthy evidence from a large number of witnesses to the effect that carrying three persons in the front seat of a modern car was a perfectly safe procedure. Evidence to the other effect was given by Chief Traffic Inspector Avery, who said that the Transport Department had adopted a . policy of, allowing only four passengers to a taxi, exclusive of the driver. If the front seat exceeded 54 inches door to door, then two passengers in front could be carried, but the door handle and window lever must be taken into consideration in measuring the distance. DEFINITELY DANGEROUS. The practice of carrying three passengers in front, he said, was definitely dangerous. The driver had not the room' to drive the car safely, because one of his elbows was “ hanging out of the window. Mr Stevens; 1 object to Mr Avery’s evidence as to the intention of the Transport Department. It is only hearsay., Mr Allen: We will accept it as evidence, in the meantime. It can be checked later. Mr Stevens: There is no other danger connected with the practice of driving with three in the front seat? Chief-inspector Avery: No. That danger is sufficient. Mr Henderson: Is the practice dangerous in, those modern cars where the fear lever is on the wheel or the dashoard? Chief-inpector Ayery; _ Yes. The elbow is resting on the window-ledge. Mr Stevens: It would be worse still if tho occupants of the car were big men? Chief-inspector Avery: Yes. Mr Stevens: Would you call Inspector Cameron a big man—or yourself? Yes. Is it not a fact that in the procession in Safety Week you and Inspector Cameron and another inspector all rode in the front seat of one car? I could not say. Would you deny it? No. Mr Stevens; Was that dangerous? Chief-inspector Avery: _ No; because the driver’s elbow was inside. Mr Stevens: Then the danger can be obviated, and there is no other danger? Chief-inspector Avery: There is another danger. Mr Stevens: Do you wish to deny your previous evidence? .■ Tho Inspector, after some hesitating replies, said that he did The other danger existed where, the centre passenger was. a wonian. ■-The gear lever, projected four inches past her knees ■: Mr Stevens: You are not going to tell us you were embarrassed? ■ '■ ■ Chief-inspector Avery: ■No. But if anything happened, a woman was liable to clamp her knees round the gear handle. 1 Mr Stevens: Have you ever had it happen when you were in the car? Chief-inspector Avery: No. But it has been done. Mr Stevens begged leave to call witnesses on this additional point. Mr Allen: He says ho has seen it done, and your witnesses cannot alter that. Mr Stevens : If the authority is going to take any cognisance of this evidence, 1 ask leave to call witnesses. The'Mayor intimated that sufficient time had been spent on the question.— Decision was reserved in the meantime.