Cyclisis and Motor Accidents

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7296, 5 August 1930, Page 8

Cyclisis and Motor Accidents

To the Editor. Sir, —It’s pretty awful to see the number of smashes and other accidents through motor cars in our streets. One would think the number of court cases, fines and even imprisonment would bring down tho numbers. Drunks are tho worst of the lot; nest comes those careless and reckless youths who drive trade lorries and whizz round corners and laugh if you just scrapo past safely. I saw- an accident in Rangitikei street not long ago when the car driver seemed to think if ho just put out his hand on a dark night he had tho right to knock one o\or. The accidents where bikes arc concerned are chiefly because car'drivers can “step on it” when one on a bike finds it hard to get up a bit of speed suddenly to get clear. Head winds are another cause of accidents. Drivers will not get the idea that you cannot go 20 miles per hour to get clear of them, so over you go. I often wondor why there is not a by-law to stop drivers getting out of cars on the wrong side —that is, on their right. Dozens of times I’ve just scraped past betweon two cars when some fool driver gets out and takes it for granted he has a clear space. Tho car doors arc the very devii in this respect. Is there any cure for these accidents caused by careless driving? Hero is one cure which would soon settle the whole blamed business. When a driver knocks anyone over those who witness it should pull him out of his or her car and then give them, say, a dozen bumps on the hard road. If a by-law, or any law, were passed to enable us to carry this out tlicTo would be very few accidents. In my opinion some women aro worse than male drivers. They take no notice of tho by-law about being careful “on their' right hand,’’ but dash past and make you smash your bike brake to save your life. They will stick to the crown of the road, rush round corners when yapping with a passenger, and then, laugh at you for scolding them. It seems to mo our City Council should have had the eyes of those who claimed damages examined. It’s on the caids that it would have been found their eyes wanted glasses. When I hear anyone howl about the glaring headlights of cars I feel sure his eyes want seeing to. Rangitikei line is a terrible trip at night when bikes and motor bikes dash past you showing no lights. They rush out of the blackness and you have no chanco to save yourself if they aic “offside.” I counted eighteen motor bikes without lights (one carrying four, three of them pillion) and twenty-four bikes without lights. From the city to the big bridge is an awful spot. The skid marks show that. This'brings me to the matter of brakes. Wo hear of four-wheeled brakes. Where are they? Skid marks all over the city streets prove they arc chiefly one-wheel brakes. I suppose tho drivers only go eight miles per hour when a smash comes. Some of them say they pull up yards from each other. If so, their cars are amazingly devilish in their way of suddenly dashing at each other from a standing start. When a driver is in the wrong ho should own up and not act the “car cad.” In all the accidents I have seen I never yet met a driver who told ’tho truth about it. Another cause of accidents is through pulling up cars in a busy part when other cars arc already parked. One has to get out wide to pass, and perhaps a car comes along ochind you just as you get alongside. And, well, we have only one heart, so why try stopping this necessary engine? Yes, Sir! Haid bumps and plenty of thenj is the motoi medicine most drivers Want. There would be plenty of us to grow arms and legs to get tho bumping going.—l am, etc., ' ~ • BIKE EIDER.