MOTOR ACCIDENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19496, 3 June 1925, Page 10

MOTOR ACCIDENTS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The accidents due to motor traffic in our midst are rapidly increasing. Indeed, motors threaten to become the greatest executioners in history. itvery day I observe some narrow escapes in our streets. Traffic we must have, but surely we can regulate it in such a manner as not to maim or kill so many. It therefore behoves those in authority to try to frame some regulations with a view to controlling traffic, and lessening accidents From years of observation and practice in motor driving I beg to offer the following as a statement of causa# of accidents: 1. The increasing number of motors and their rapidity and silence in movement. 12. Drivers seem to assume that the road is theirs and that they are not obliged to consider pedestrians. 3. Some drivers -seem to get so excited by the power and speed at thier command, that they become intoxicated, and hence are indifferent to consequences. 4. Pedestrians have become so accustomed to the slow movements of horse traffic .and the small number of noisy big tramcars, that they think they have time to get out of the way of motortraffic, when really they have not. 5. Some pedestrians are careless or ' joying,” or self-absorbed, or deaf, or feeble, or excited with alcohol, and hence they fail, to take proper precautions. 6. A few pedestrians take it leisurely, and, in looks, say to the motorist. ‘‘How dare you run me down? Look out for the law and damages,” 7. Old people and children arc to be pitied, for the one lot are gradually losing their mental and physical activities, while the other lot have not acquired them or pursue trifles. 8. Haste and money are amongst the vices of our age. 9. The magistrates have said that pedestrians and motorists have equal rights to the use of the streets, and this, instead of beinga safety valve, may be a cause of accidents. I have thought out some remedies, but I think it better to leave that matter to those in authority.—l am, etc., Gordon Macdonald.