NUMEROUS MOTOR SMASHES OCCUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18959, 3 January 1930, Page 9

NUMEROUS MOTOR SMASHES OCCUR.

INSPECTOR RECOMMENDS MORE STRINGENT TESTS. An unusually large number of motor accidents have occurred in and around Christchurch during the past few days. Upwards of a score of people were involved. It is fortunate that serious injury and loss of life were out of proportion to the number and nature of the smashes. The plunge made by a motor-car with seven passengers over a forty-foot bank at Evans Pass on Monday night is one example of bad accident when the occupants of the car escaped serious injury. Collisions were numerous in the city, one proving fatal. In the country districts and on the Port Hills a number of mishaps were caused through cars getting off the road. Cars Badly Smashed. While injury to persons was at a low tally extensive damage was done to vehicles. On the premises of the leading garages of the city a dozen badly smashed motor-cars were to be seen this morning. Another dozen showed signs of having been in minor collisions. These cars were all brought in for repairs during the past week. Some of the more seriously damaged vehicles are in such a state that mechanics can scarcely decide where to begin work. The damage must be estimated in hundreds of pounds. “More Exacting Tests Needed.” “ The indications of the past two or three days are that more exacting tests should be made before licenses are issued,” said Mr H. Macintosh, chief traffic inspector. “ Although the best driver is likely to come to grief, it seems there are many persons driving cars who are incompetent. The test made in Christchurch has been tightened up and there have been complaints that it is too severe. If need be, we will make it tighter still. “ We are able to check the tests that car owners have been put through by this department, but we cannot tell what tests are made in other parts. Indiscriminate issuing of licenses is harmful. I think that the police should scrutinise all ‘tickets’ with the object of finding out the class of examination drivers have been given.”