Truth The Menace Of The Motor

NZ Truth, Issue 1146, 17 November 1927, Page 6

Truth

The Menace Of The Motor

THE VKjOVUEiG X>A.I>ESH-^

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1927

JHERB is no doubt that with the evidence of even the past six months as a guide, motor-driving must be classed by insurance corporations as a dangerous occupation. N

Equally, no doubt, a considerable section of the public has come to regard motoring as a method of travel involving somewhat imminent and unavoidable risks. Ideas and, comparisons of that kind are apt to get so fixed that they become articles of faith and belief, and that, m the case of motoring, would do more harm than the accidents upon which they are based.

Inherently there is little or no danger m motoring. That is to say, there need be none. It is the manner m which motor-cars are handled that converts safety into danger, and sensible people,^ therefore, are driven to seek some means of compelling the observance of rules and regulations which will go to prevent their mishandling.

Official rules and regulations, however necessary to prevent the creation of danger, are unwelcome m themselves because they seldom fail m the "end to lead to others, and so m turn our life becomes rigidly restricted, m a manner which can be made unpleasant if the police are officious or antagonistic. From all,, appearances we are on the eve of additions to the already numerous rules of conduct and observance pertaining to motoring, and, some of the proposals if carried into effect will not be at all agreeable. v , , ■ :

Motoring with -us is passing through a stage inevitable owing not so much to anything inherent m it, as inherent m human nature. The most effectual ' cure is patience and endeavor to instil a proper sense of responsibility into those who drive.

It is that familiarity which breeds contempt that' lies-at the back of our. porj;entious accident list. Things not n\ themselves free of danger are done so often as to imbue us with the' idea that they are not dangerous. Then the inevitable happens, the crisis arises from which there isvno escape, and the wiseacres discussing it \ ignore the cause m their attempts,tc> find a cure. ' ,

Always they plead for' g legislation — -tjiessed word- 1 — to /prevent repetition, and often apply 'a plaster to cure an earthquake.