ROAD ACCIDENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20895, 26 November 1937, Page 8

ROAD ACCIDENTS

DUE TO EXCESSIVE SPEED

GOVERNORS SUGGESTED

That the motor regulations did -ot make a scrap of difference to the present motor accident rate and that a greater part of the death and dar. -go on New Zealand roads was attributable to the fact that drivers did not realise the power and speed of their cars, was expressed by Mr W. T. Ritchie at the annual meeting of the Automobile Association (South Canterbury) last night. The majority of those involved 7 n accidents were drivers who passed any tests with colours flying, said Mr Ritchie, adding that those who found themselves in trouble were usual? those who did not quite know the pc./er or speed of the cars they were driving. He had in mind a country in W’hich a governor was placed on the car of every driver who got into trouble and a badge placed on the windscreen indicating that a governor had been fitted. If the driver was caught exceeding the speed of the governor, it Was obvious that he had be-n tinkering with it and was “for it.” It was excessive speed at the wrong time which was the cause of the trouble, which was not peculiar to New Zealand but was world-wide. The president (Mr S. G. McClelland) said the suggestion regarding the governor would be referred to the Safety Council for consideration. The executive received statistics of accidents and, strangely enough, it was not the “old junk” which was supposed to be put off the road which was involved but the modern types of cars which were capable of high speeds. “The accidents are due to speed and to careless driving as well,” said Mr C. H. Newcome (Borough Traffic Inspector). He referred to the prevalent practice of cutting corners and net slowing up at intersections, motorists appearing to think that they had only to keep below 30 miles an hour.