Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1930. MOTORING TRAGEDIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 June 1930, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1930. MOTORING TRAGEDIES

tragedy occurs in a motoring or other speed-re-search trial, some people become dismayed, and demand that such efforts should cease, or be kept within bounds of greater prudence. Yet, day after day, death takes its toll through ordinary motoring in which low speeds are supposed to be maintained, and the same critics do not find themselves greatly perturbed. Instead of confining their indignation to tragic happenings at speed-trials, they should assist in arousing the public conscience where the toll from the car in streets and highways is concerned.

Few days pass without car mishaps being recorded, and it is clear that the human element is mainly responsible. The cars themselves are made as safe as is possible, and the manufacturers are ever eager to adopt any contrivance to increase the safety factor. Government and local bodies have passed regulations to cover almost every conceivable risk. Nevertheless, accidents are numerous, but not one-tenth so numerous as the mishaps just avoided, by a little luck. Railway crossings are admittedly danger-spots. The Department claims to do all in its power to minimise risk to road-users, yet it is no infrequent occurrence for the nation to be shocked by some crossing collision, costing valuable lives, or resulting in loss or maining of limbs. There is no need to emphasise the toll of the streets. The regular casualty reports form the best evidence.

Nor is there likely to be any reduction in the list of motoring mishaps, until the punishment of proved offenders is made to fit the crime. The motor car is a potential weapon of destruction as well as a convenient and, in these days, necessary method of transport. Those misusing cars, to the public danger, should not be regarded as merely “unlucky,” and fined a few pounds, or their driving licenses nominally cancelled for a brief term. Intoxicated drivers, especially when it is a second or further offence, should be more harshly dealt with. Whilst the penalties for the grosser motoring sins are comparatively light, there is unlikely to be any dimunition in the loss of life and limb. When Judges and juries, magistrates and justices, show by their decisions that they are determined to suppress careless motorists, then the latter will soon cease from troubling. There is no occasion for vindictiveness, but there is for truer justice. Accidents will happen, and some motoring mishaps are admittedly due to circumstances beyond human control. The great majority, however, do not come within this category. The natural sympathy that arises with the victims of car accidents should be accompanied by a. determination that real efforts be made to minimise what is a national evil. Cars and regulations have been amended as required; the time is overdue when more attention should be paid to human carelessness, or irresponsibility.