ROAD AND RAIL SAFETY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3783, 17 July 1936, Page 11

ROAD AND RAIL SAFETY

AN OPINION IN ENGLAND. Thus a Yorkshire correspondent to the London Sunday Times:— What is going to be done to stop needless slaughter of humans on outroads? This year, to date, we have had about 10 per cent more road casualties than last year to the same date. And last year we had nearly 7000 killed and more than 206,000 injured, many of whom have died or will die because of their injuries, but will not be counted as fatal cases. On railways last year we had only 307 fatalities, Including railwaymen and trespassers as well as passengers. Only four passengers were killed in train accidents. Why this difference? It we can have strict safety laws and rules on railways, why not on roads? Only competent and sober drivers are employed on railways. Almost any idiot may have a road driving license, take out a defective vehicle, or one he knows little about, and drive at breakneck speed. Railway companies have had to make their own tracks, and buy every inch of land necessary, often at far more than fair price. Motor car speed fiends are allowed to use ready-made roads —made at the general public expense. It express traffic is necessary on roads, it should be confined to private or special roads. No express vehicle should be seen on a public road or street. Dangerous vehicles should be as strictly prohibited on roads as dangerous machines are prohibited in mines. The road automobile is permitted now to kill many more persons than are killed in all our essential industries, including mining and seafaring. We have wholesale manslaughter without reason or excuse. We ought to have railway safety on the roads.