Motor-Cycling Dangers

Northern Advocate, 29 March 1938, Page 6

Motor-Cycling Dangers

ACCORDING to the Minister of Transport, more people have been killed this month in accidents in which motor-cyclists were concerned than in all other traffic mishaps. This is a terrible indictment, and the Minister will have the sympathy of the public when he declares that he will support the Road Safety Council’s campaign to lessen this class of road tragedies. There is little doubt that motor-cyclists themselves occupy a highly vulnerable position. Indeed, accident figures for the past ten months, it is stated, show that motor-cyclists are three times as liable to injury as is a driver or a passenger in a private ear. But, in addition to that, he is undoubtedly a menace to all traffic if he is not master of his machine, which, because of its speed possibilities, and its inconspicuous appearance on a road, may become a very dangerous vehicle. 1 Mr Semple intends to launch an education campaign for the benefit of motor-cyclists, but in the meantime he is taking- the sensible course of appealing to all dealers in motor-cyclists never to let an inexperienced rider go on the road without telling him what his dangers and responsibilities arel “The dealer should remember that a lesson a young rider learns from experience may he his last.” In-these words, Mr Semple expresses a truth in characteristic language, and dealers should take note of it. A motor-cycle makes strong appeal to the youth, who is able to secure a machine on easy terms.- Too often he takes the road before he is fit to do so, and thereby constitutes himself a menace to himself and all whom he meets or overtakes on the road. The incidence of killings- and mannings in which motorcyclists figure must be reduced.