The Manawatu Daily Times SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1936. A Motorist's Conscience

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 44, 22 February 1936, Page 4

The Manawatu Daily Times SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1936. A Motorist's Conscience

la heavily motorised countries, the toll of the motor in accidents and deaths, is comparable with the losses in a fairsized military campaign, but surely such losses need not be? The Hon. Mr Justice Blair recently stated that the best regulation would be one compelling motorists so to travel that they could pidl up in one-half the distance that they could see. There is sound logic in this suggestion and doubtless, good regulations, were they always obeyed, would do much to prevent accidents. Regulations must not, however, be presumed to exert a magical inliuencc. Motorists are already governed and ruled by the motor regulations in force and these occupy seventy-two pages of a booklet that every motorist is legally expected to know off by heart. Unnecessarily obstructive legislation is undesirable, it only results in regulations as a whole being treated with contempt.

Accidents will never be reduced to a reasonable level until motorists generally have developed an accident complex and until such time as it is looked upon as something disgraceful to have an accident. Commands from authorities have not the effect possessed by commands of conscience supported by active public opinion. Most accidents are said to be avoidable and this fact must become appreciated. But the general statement requires amplification as accidents arc not always incurred through carelessness. Many happen from the ignorance of drivers; the lack of knowledge of mechanics and of the behaviour of vehicles when travelling at high speed. On the highways are thousands who have barely a rudimentary knowledge of motor-driving. At our schools, both primary and secondary, are thousands of young people who will be, before many years pass, sitting behind a wheel. Would it not be a wise course to give these young men and women of to-morrow, an understanding of the principles of motor travelling? To teach them the dynamics of speed, of skidding and braking? A generation so taught would properly comprehend the risks of travelling at speed. At the same time, a motoring conscience could be inculcated. The result would not be altogether delayed. The modern child is in more ways than one, the father of the man and from the school, influences would flow back to the parents, and would have before long, a good result. _ % The toll of the motor is too great; it must be and it can be lessened and public opinion can bring this about.