COWARDLY MOTORISTS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6650, 2 July 1928, Page 9

COWARDLY MOTORISTS

“HIT AND RUN” DRIVERS. Melbourne is suffering from an epidemic of “hit-and-run” motorists-cow-ardly drivers , who, whenever . they strike a pedestrian, speed away leaving their victims on the head. -T Most of the cases have occurred at night, and, the motorists have trusted to luck,hoping that by keeping up their speed it would bo difficult for an eye-witness to take their number. ’ -This difficulty, of reading the dimly-lit number-plate of a fast moving car has brought’ forth: a demand from the public for a better system. ; Formerly ‘ ‘hit-and-run” ■■... drivers adopted the rusc of switching, off their tail-light when an accident occurred, but that dodge is impossible now, as the Victorian registration system demands that the tail-light switch must be so placed that it; cannot be operated from the driver’s scat. But there is great need"fOr better lighting of the number-plate. ‘ All sorts of suggestions are being made with the idea of making the figures more easily, read. Coloured figures, raised figures,- and illuminated figures .are all proposed. One man, has .patented a ;numberplate, which can bo road dearly at a distance, of 65 yeards. The plate and the tail-light arc united; and, as soon as the tail-light is switched on it throws a, light behind semi-transparent opal figured making them conspicuous on the darkest night. 1