“LEARNER” SIGNS FOR MOTORISTS

Southland Times, Issue 23649, 26 October 1938, Page 4

“LEARNER” SIGNS FOR MOTORISTS

CANTERBURY OPINIONS ON PROPOSAL “There is no sliame in having an ‘L’ on your car—l would have-been much happier when I was learning if I had had one,” sai'd Mr Roy Twyneham at a meeting of the committee of the Automobile Association (Canterbury) when the subject of “L” plates for learners arose. “Other traffic realizes on seeing a car with them that the driver must be given a fair chance and that it must not take risks or rely on his skill,” said Mr Twyneham. Mr F. W. Freeman: The safest drivers are the learners in any case—they always drive so slowly and cautiously. Mr F. W. Johnston said he thought the term “learner” was a misnomer, as motor drivers were learning all their lives. He considered the term should be “M” for moderate, and that there also be a term “O,” implying that the driver was old, as many accidents were caused either directly or indirectly by frail, nervous drivers of advanced years. Mr L, B. Young said that many licence-holders had no right to be driving at all, even with an “L.” In certain country districts close to town, he said, the tests never included either traffic or hill work; they were not nearly strict enough.