CONTROL THE MOTORIST

Opunake Times, 15 January 1935, Page 2

CONTROL THE MOTORIST

Notwithstanding the efforts of the authorities, tlie tragic daily toll taken by the automobile and motor cycle i« on the increase. Faults of people who, by mischance are able to be at' the wheel of a modern speed machine are many, but it seems that patrol reports of the Automobile Association indicate three principal faults, of which overtaking is one. Anybody can verify that. It is nothing to see two motor vehicles racing each other, and in doing so, occupying the full width of the bitumen or concrete. Whether the race started with the almost-overtaken speeding up, in order to defeat the purpose of the overtaker, or whether the first car was alread•ng speeding, it would be difficult to say; but the net result is two vehicles roaring along the roadway side by side—and everybody else gets out. Should anyone be coming in the opposite direction, the overtaker does not (perhaps cannot) give way; the man coming against him must take the last chance to avoid an accident, and forthwith pulls out on the macadam, to prevent the overtaker becoming an undertaker. Yet people wonder why there are accidents. Yew Zealand has more than its share of mad motorists, some of the run-you-dnwn without compunction class, some careless, many drunken drivers, and others who are incapable or short sighted. Too many of those permitted to drive cars should have never been granted licenses, and better supervision is necessary in future. As to the road hog who offends, his punishment should be more drastic than hitherto.