“SAFETY FIRST"

Waipa Post, Volume 41, Issue 3220, 1 November 1930, Page 6

“SAFETY FIRST"

REDUCINGNUMBER OF ROAD ACCIDENTS. - , The -following is a. snort talk by Mr A. ■ E.-'Ghamptaloup,/ touring manager :of the AucklandAutoriaobile Association^; entitled Accidents," wherein he deals interestingly with the problem of ensuring safety on.the roads: — I Lnlake: no apologies for again bringing to your notice the question of "Safety 'First." The annual death toll from motor vehicle accidents has increased very rapidly during the past five years and an endeavour is now being made by my association to induce all users of the King's highway to exercise more care arid to live and preach "safety first. It must riot be thought that every accident is due to the carelessness of the- motorist;: pedestrians also have their failings arid both sections must plead guilty of being the original cause of many minor, as well as seri-

ousaccidents. "■ A person who has never a motor car finds it difficult to with the drivpoint of view, but a motorist can usually -appreciate the pedestrian's "difficuliiy for he is often-afoot himself and subject to: the dangers of the road. ; Most road "crashes"are unnecessary. -They happen only because people don't think about them. Perils of the road are of our own making. During the coming summer when the traffic will be thick on the vkrioiis highways throughout the Dominion, let every road user resolve to be on the alert and there can be no doubt that the weekly list of accidents ■will be greatly reduced. • Road safetygls really quite a simple matter. -'To Obtain it for yourself, andrfor others whom you may encounter on your journeys, you have only to do two things -\- You have to

remember in the first place, what the rules arid customs of the road; are, and you have to allow for the fact that Others may break them. If you do these two things, nothing but a miracle will bring you into trouble provided, of course, the road surface is wide,enough and not of the single car type where a careless driver will cattse ari accident irrespective of what precautions you may take. >lri--the cities, please regard the white line—the symbol of- safety —as sacred.: '.You must never swing out across it on to the wrong side of the road, but-always faithfully keep on ;the proper r side. , , ' . . Unfortunately the local bodies m arid around Auckland have not yet made full use of white lines for traffic control, and up to the "present the -silent policeman or .traffic dome acts as a substitute. -No doubt, the backwardness of local bodies in this direction is due to expense as the painted white lines are rather costly. _ - The '•'■'■' A.A.A. has now; obtained samples of metal for permanent white lines which may perhaps, induce local Wliar t.rt lav down more of these pre-

cautionary measures. •' *,' '- . : By shooting.across the road on the wrong side of a corner, you endanger, traffic approaching in the opposite direction; You ihay get away with this time after time, but sooner or later you must learn a severe lesson. Our highways present so many delightful scenes .that motorists are m the: habit of stopping to admire the beauties of nature; but be carefulnot to park your car right on a corner where it is liable to cause a passing ieiur to swing out to the wrong side of the ,road and thus, run the risk of '. meeting ' approaching traffic. The same thing applies when changing a wheel or mending a puncture.. Pull your car well over to the-left of the road arid leave the highway clear for moving -traffic.- . Never attempt to pass another vehicle going in the same direction, unless you have a clear visibility and a good view of the road ahead. It is a common fault to fail to give traffic signals when stopping, or turning to the right, especially on isolated country roads; but if you will make this a'matter of habit and religiously carry it out under*all conditions, much annoyance,,if not danger to other road users will be saved. "--'•' , j :;t Even- supposing you have resolved to fake all these precautions, you must still.riot-forget that other drivers may. not be so considerate or as mtelligent as yourself. .You may come : prie day. on a motorist who has misjudged 'his. speed on a corner and . ; His" wbeels are well over the edge on the wrong side of the road and out* of control. . ".

i:' Be prepared for these emergencies and actf accordingly. - j ; One other courtesy I would impress on motorists, is to give way to approaching traffic. - You all know that obnoxious individual who hangs to the centre of the road and forces you over into the water table You may . meet a few -of these people, but the ' majority of road users are decent law--abiding folk and if you give way to :-ithem, .they will usually return, the compliment. " * , Again, if passing an overtaken veh- ' icle, be careful not to cut in in front of him too soon.' You may not only frighten him, but perhaps flying Stones from your rear wheels may • penetrate his windscreen. r In-traffic, don't let your attention :-' be distracted by people on the pave- ' ment, but keep your eyes ahead, ever aon the watch for some unseen danger, and again, when you have been hailed by a pal, don't execute a quick "turn in the road without giving the slightest warning to.the traffic behind you. ■ , It-is by the observence of such small points as these that you can all em'oy a really safe summer; just a little thought, just a little common sense., and just a little imagination are all that are needed if accidents are to be prevented. Cultivate always, the habit o± "thinking ahead" speculate as to what every crossing and every turning, will bring, and act accordingly.