THE H.B. TRIBUNE MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1936. CURBING THE ROAD HOG.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 148, 8 June 1936, Page 6

THE H.B. TRIBUNE MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1936. CURBING THE ROAD HOG.

There will probably be very general agreement with the Bill which, as reported to-day, the Hon. Robert Semple, as Minister u£ Transport, has brought down in the House for the further regulation of the use of motor vehicles. To none will it be more welcome than to the .main body of motor-drivers themselves. The speedier means of locomotion which these vehicles provide have almost necessarily tended greatly to increase the number of accidents that occur on streets and highways. On the other hand, however, there can be no question as to the proportions which this increase has attained being very largely due to carelessness, thoughtlessness, or even worse on the part of those in charge of the wheel. There are besides not a few who, especially among the less experienced dirvers and apart altogether from the effects of over-indulgence in ardent liquors, suffer from a species of intoxication induced by the speed itself. To irresponsibles of these classes a very large percentage of the accidents, fatal and otherwise, arc undoubtedly due, and it is upon them in particular that some further and more effective restraint requires to be imposed. The only way, short of complete prohibition, by which this end can be attained is by tightening up the regulating legislation, making it more uniform in its character and providing heavier penalties for its violation. All these measures for promoting greater safety have been invoked by the Bill. It is easily understandable that variety in local by-laws dealing with the subject tends to a multiplication of accidents, for no driver over the long distances traversed by motor vehicles can be hoped to make himself acquainted with ail of them. The consequence is that, through pardonable ignorance, he is liable to commit offences leading to more or less serious accidents. Thus the greater uniformity there is throughout the country with respect to the regulation of speed and other traffic observances the less chance there should be of accidents occurring. By a good few, however, and especially among pedestrians, it will probably be thought that at thirty miles an hour the Bill sets too rapid a standard of progress through centres of population There are, of course, areas even within the boundaries ol' cilies and boroughs where this speed would not be really dangerous but as a general standard it would appear to be set too high. Per haps, however, it is contemplated tliat this should be qualified by the permission which is to bo. given for local authorities, with the approval of the Minister, to impose lower speed limits “to meet special cases,’’ though it docs not seem to be made very

clear what will be regarded as such. So far as concerns penalties, it would appear that only by making these heavier are some motorists to be brought to anything like a due sense of their responsibilities to other members of the community, including their fellow motorists. The schemes of insurance that have been Instituted, -while entirely laudable in other respects, have undoubtedly had the effect of reducing the sense cf individual responsibility. Thus it is only by making fines big enough to seriously touch the pockets of offenders that, in this respect, a really deterrent effect can be gained. Magistrates have long complained of the need for something of this kind and it lias now been placed to their hands. On the other hand, those who may be charged with only minor and inadvertent offences will be glad of the provisions which will make it easier and less expensive for them to defend themselves. Here, presumably, a great deal will be left to the discretion of the presiding magistrate as to the character of the evidence and representations he will accept.