THE MOTOR HORN

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6489, 8 April 1908, Page 7

THE MOTOR HORN

COULD THE PUBLIC BE PROTECTED? SUGGESTED SIGNALS. The suggestion that there might be some simple system of signalling by means of blasts of the motor horn so that cyclists and others being overtaken hy a motor might bo nrarnod of tho latter’s approach was referred yesterday by a “Now Zealand Times reporter to Mr C. M. Banks, secretary of the Wellington Automobile Association.

MOTOR AND MOTOR.

Mr Banks said the arrangement of a code of signals had been discussed in England but he believed ihoy would only apply as benicon <> ne motorist and another and not as between motorists and tho public. The only recognised signal between motorists and the public was the racing of the hand, which was- an indication to motorists that a horseman or driver wished the motor to pull up to allow him to pass. This was in general use and was always regarded. There was a suggested code or signals as between motorist and motorist formed by holding the hands in different positions. THE RULE OF THE ROAD.

As a' general rule, however, MiBanks considers that if people observ-

ed the rule of the road there would be very few accidents. He had been a cyclist as well as a motorist, and h£ know that in four cases out of five it was customary for cyclists, when being overtaken by a vehicle, to sp-ead so as to allow the vehicle to pass between them. If the road was wide enough, of course, that was all right, but there was always a certain amount of risk attaching to passing people in this way. One cyclist might swerve just at the moment when the motor was passing. Personally, he was always somewhat afraid of passing cyclists in this way. ■ DO NOT HESITATE. N

It really did not matter what regulation* there were, there nould always b© accidents unless both parties exorcised judgment and care. The slower the traffic the more careless the public became. The great cause of trouble was hesitation on the part of people in danger of being run over. If thov would only stand still they would be safe except in very rare cases, because motors were so easily handled. That spdod in itself is nob the dangerous factor waa proved by the great proportion of deaths caused in England by steam rollers —more than by motor cars.

In. conclusion Mr Banks remarked that the accident at Hutt on Sunday was the first instance in Wellington of a person sustaining serious injury from a privately-owned motor car, and it was the first case in New Zealand of a cyclist being run down by a motor from behind. In any case the evidence showed that had the cyclist not swerved the accident would not have occurred.