IN DEFENCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 30 July 1927, Page 11

IN DEFENCE.

MOTORING ACCIDENTS. THE CASE FOR THE DRIVER. The ease for the motorist was put forward by Mr L. A. Edwards!, who gave ail address 'on “Safety First” at the last meeting of the North Island Motor Union held in Wellington. Mr. Edwards said there was a serious menace in the creation of an idea of antagonism to motorists. It was sometimes apparent in pronouncements from the Bench, and in the way motoring accidents were reported in the piress. The history of every invention had been one of serious opposition; people did not like being shaken out of their usual ruts. If accidents occurred, motorists might bn charged in a criminal case by twelve men drawn from the general public, and to a large extent the case was prejudiced. If the union could do something to show that it was active, it might be able to remedy that attitude. Tie referred to the following Dress report regarding the increase of motor fatalities: “Deaths from motorvehicle accidents are largely responsible in New Zealand (says the Government Statistician) as in most countries, for recent increases in the general accidental death rate. The number of deaths attributable to motor accidents in New Zealand has risen from til in !922 to 143 in 192(5. ”

He considered that the statement was misleading. He contended that, accidents were not increasing, considering the growth of motor traffic. The figures should be made to relate to

accidents per thousand, 'or hundred thousands of registered cars. He quoted figures showing that in America accidents had decreased in 1917 from 178 per hundred thousand registered ears to 95 per hundred thousand in 192 G. Decreases had also been apparent in California and in England. In England. whereas accidents from 191 S to 1924 had increased four-fold, the number of registered vehicles had increased eightfold. Those figures, he contended, showed that motorists were not becoming more careless. In London there had been a drop from 137 in 1919 to 108 in 1923. The control of traffic- in London was perfect, and he said he would travel there rather than in Wellington, particularly on Lambton Quay, near the Government Buildings, where pedestrians were allowed to stand where they liked. The union would be failing if it did not institute some campaign to counteract the apparent growth of the feeling that motorists were careless of the lives of citizens. He considered that control of traffic was worse in Wellington than in atij- other city of the North Island as fni as pedestrians were concerned. The laxity, he contended, was on the part of the local authorities.

“That as this union recognises one of its most serious duties to be the protection of its members and the general public, it forthwith institutes a determined ‘safety first’ campaign to secure much-needed improvement in pedestrian regulations and control, and to impress motorists generally with a full sense of their responsibilities. “That in towns, where not instituted or practised, authorities be requested to insert in road surfaces discs at street intersections to instil into drivers of vehicles the habit of observance of the rule of the road, and that cutting of corners be specially condemned. “That all clubs be requested, ns part of the campaign, to circularise members with the approved traffic signals and take such other means as will impress upon them .the vital necessity of a driver indicating beyond doubt to other road users his immediate intentions. “That the practice of giving way to cars approaching from the right be advocated. “That as the practice of dimming both head lights is fraught with serious danger to all concerned, members be requested to switch off the off-side head light, only. A simple wiring adjustment will effect this. “That all parking areas in congested situations be marked off in spaces sufficient to accommodate one car only, and that motoristjs dentre ears ,in such spaces. Where roads are narrow, spaces be outlined obliquely to pavements. “That in all cases where motorists consider that another motorist has acted contrary to the by-laws 'of his town, (lie number of the offending motorist should be reported to the local club and the secretary should notify the offender of ttie complaint and circumstances. “That where pedestrian traffic is inefficiently controlled., a deputation from the local club wait upon the local authorities and urge protective regulation giving instances of existing laxity.” As far as railway crossings were concerned. he said he was not in favour of warning signals, but favoured the right to unobstructed vision.

TAIL LAMP FAILURES. It is impossible to guard against t lie failure of a tail lamp bulb and even if new bulbs are fitted as a precaution every two or three months, there is still-every chance of being caught unawares. Since no excuse for tail light failure i.s acceptable in a case of prosecution, the motorist should connect the dash lamp in series to serve as an indicator If one spare bulb is carried a replacement can be made immediately the dash lamp fails to light. For series connection on 6-volt circuits the only suitable bulbs listed are 3-3 .J volts 2 watts, approximately 2 ep. each. To connect in series, simply disconect the existing circuit at a convenient point to the dash and join the two ends to the indicator bulb so that the two bulbs form a straight-through circuit It is important to see that the two bulbs are. exactly alike in volts and current consumption. An alternative system is to use a twinfilament bulb, although as each of these filaments would give 2 ep., if one breaks the light is reduced to half the normal 4 cp. Yet another system is to fit a twin-bull) holder with a magnetic relay device, which automatically ‘‘changes over’’ the unused hull) if the other fails, hut this arangement introduces a certain amount of electrical complication and increases the cost of the equipment,