WHERE ACCIDENTS OCCUR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 11 September 1926, Page 14

WHERE ACCIDENTS OCCUR.

From statistics recently issued by a large motor insurance company in England, it would appear that 78 per cent, of all accidents occur in towns and villages, 50 per cent, of which occur at cross-roads and corners. Not one of those accidents would probably have happened but for the factor of speed. Speed is generally the maim cause of most all motor accidents on the roads. Most people insure their cars mainly with the view of protecting themselves against the other follow. They feel that but for him they could drive uninsured, and so, for protection against other people’s excessive speed, they have to insure. One mark of the roadhog is sheer bad “road manners,’' 5 but by far the worst manifestation is the desire for speed in the wrong place—at cross-roads, round corners, through towns, and' at all times. It is worth while considering the factors that go to make the “speed merchant’’ or tho “road-hog.’’ Vanity is one, based on the pleasure of creating a sensation by doing something spectacular. The roadhog wants you to think that he is a wonderful fellow and in a wonderful ear. Then there is the sheer exuberance of youth that wants the thrill of speed and of risks taken and successfully passed; for this sort of thrill any kind of motor vehicle is suitable, from a van to a Rolls-Royce. Finally, stark recklessness, based on ignorance or indifference to consequence, is a prime factor of excessive speed; it may derive from courage combined with skill, or mere brutal indifference to physical risk. Either way the road-liog is a danger to the community, and every man’s hand should be against Mm. A road-hog is only a “speed merchant” because he feels financially safe. Take away this feeling of being protected against the pecuniary consequences of speed and a large reduction in the total of all road accidents would inevitably result. Driving an uninsured ear is the finest training for the cultivation of tho faculty of cautiousness.