The Hawera Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1929. ENGLISH MOTOR TRAFFIC BILL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 5 December 1929, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1929. ENGLISH MOTOR TRAFFIC BILL.

Delivered every evening by 6 o'elook in Hawera, Manaia, Kaupokonui, Otakeho, 00-;. Pihama, Opunake. Normanby. Okaiawa, Eltham, Ngaere, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Te Kiri, Mahoe. Lowgarth, Manutahi. Kakaramea, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea. Whenuaknra, Waverley, Mokoia. Whakamara. Okangai, Meremere, Fraser Road and Ararata

The new Motor Traffic Bill introduced in the House of Commons 1 follows fairly closely the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Transport, which issued its report on ithc control of traffic about three months ago. It is significant that the attempt to restrict the speed of cars to a definite speed o if miles per hour is abandoned and in its place the Bill proposes a more drastic policy in regard to. dangerous driving. The speed of charabancs and lorries is limited to thirty miles per hour, but some rule is essential in their case because of the size l and weight of the vehicles. The Commission proposed to make the fine for conviction for dangerous driving at least £SO for a first offence, and £IOO for a second, with the alternative Of imprisonment, coupled with the automatic cancellation of the driver's license. As the deaths from road accidents number about 6000 a year and injuries over 150,000, it is obvious that new measures' are imperative. The Commission laid stress oni the importance of observing road signs and the miles of the road and suggested minor penalties for breaches in this respect. In regard to drunkenness, it suggested that the offence should be defined to permit of the conviction of a driver whe, not being actually drunk, is not able to exercise proper control of :hi s car. On the vexed question of headlights, the Commission was strongly in favour iOf dimming or dipping—an inevitable conclusion in England where some roads would be rendered highly dangerous by a,n unending procession of glaring headlights. Compulsory third-party insurance has been included in the new Bill and, needless to say, it will meet with widespread approval. A very important provision of the English Bill requires that the applicant for a driving license shall make

a declaration of physical htness. In most countries there is a growing feeling that some test of eyesight is needed, but no satisfactory rule an this subject has yet 'been found. The -new proposals constitute an enormous advance on the present condition of traffic regulation at Home, but they will not in themselves eliminate accidents. What is required, of course, is the education: of motor drivers themselves, the development ;of road sense and road courtesy and the development of caution among pedestrians. Laws may nvahe for 1 safety, but their chief use is to, create »< standard of conduct. In addition to that, of course, they impose adequate penalties for breaches' of rules and regulations, and in that wav they help to eliminate the temperamentally unfit. One very -useful recommendation of the- commission, not embodied in the Bill, is that a full examination should bo made of the statistics af road accidents with a view to ascertaining the relative importance of the various causes. When that is completed it may be desirable to modify the provisions of the Jaw, and British experience should bo of material assistinee to this Dominion. Probably conroversy will -concern itself mainly with lie abolition of the speed limit, tout in hat. respect Britain is accepting proion t conditions—'because the regulation s seldom observed and rarely enforced —and incidentally she is falling into ino with Continental countries which ong since realised the futility of arbi-1 rary restriction. I