SAFETY GLASS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 10 December 1938, Page 7

SAFETY GLASS

MOTOR CAR WINDOWS DIVISION OF OPINION The question whether non-shatter glass should be fitted to all the windows of motor-cars, or only to the windscreens, as debated at the South Island Motor Union conference at Gieymonth. The advocates of all-round installation eventually prevailed (reports the “Express”). The Otago A.A. forwarded the following remit: "That in consequence of the many serious injuries received in motor accidents as the result of broken glass, this meeting requests the Minister to formulate regulations to make the use of safety glass compulsory in all windows of cars assembled in, or ! imported into New Zealand after a date to be decided upon by the Minister.” I Note: The Union has already expressed! itself to the Transport Department as being in favour of the windscreens of | motor vehicles being fitted with safety i glass Moving the adoption of the remit, Mr J Reid said it was realised that safety i glass was favoured for windscreens, but ■ Otago felt that all windows should be I of the same type, owing to injuries done to passengers in the back seats of cars.' The cost would be £7 for small cars j and £lO for large ones. Mr R. P. Furness, who seconded the ! motion, said he much preferred safety I glass, to which the only objection seemed to be that it was not as easy to get out of a car which had fallen in a river when safety glass was used in the windows. The proportion of persons who met their deaths in that manner was much lower than in the case of persons seriously injured by broken glass. The provision of safety glass might also deter people from taking risks in gorges and on other roads adjoining water. Mr F. W. Johnston said that the resolution was deficient, because it could not become operative for perhaps ten years. The resolution should apply to present cars as well as those to be purchased in the future. Mr A. Grayson said that the North Island Union supported the proposal to use safety glass in windscreens only Dr. Gibbs: ‘I gathered at the North Island meeting that cut throats were preferred to drowning.” Mr Johnston: "Drowning is a much easier way ” Mr P W Breen pointed out that a great number of cars already had safety glass. There was a big number of cases of injury from broken glass,

but the manufacturers would not use safety glass on account of the cost. If they asked the Government to enforce it. it would mean that in a lew years all cars would L» provided with it. Dr. Brown said that he knew of only one fatal injury from broken glass. There were a great number of minor injuries, but a greater still percentage of deaths from drowning and fire in cars. Southland favoured only the safety windscreen. The remit was adopted. Southland opposing, and it was decided to forward the decision to the North Island Union.