TOLL OF THE ROAD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 95, 23 April 1930, Page 8

TOLL OF THE ROAD

ALARM AT SPEEDING PUBLIC MEETING SUGGESTED. The increasing total of fatal road accidents in which the motor-car plays by far the greater part is leading to a general feeling of unrest in the community. Hardly • day passes but what the death roll is added to. To a “Chronicle’’ reporter a prominent motorist gave it as his opinion that a public meeting should be called to discuss a campaign to copo with speeding. “To my mind by far the greater number of car drivers are careful,” he said “but of what avail is that? A few* irresponsibles spoil the whole thing. A person’s life is not safe on the highways these days. In some cases it is not immune from danger on the footpath. This lust for speed will have to be curbed and if the Government do not act the public must force them.

“In what way would you suggest that action be taken?” he was asked. ‘‘ A public meeting would probably give vent to many suggestions,” he replied, “but it would be most useful in framing a strong protest against matters as they are. Aly personal opinion is that there should be no speed limits and people, should be made careful by rigid control by patrolling inspectors. In England they have abolished speed restrictions setting a pace of so many miles per hour, and drivers are arrested when they drive in a manner dangerous to the public. For instance, it might be dangerous to drive over a certain roadway at all. The presence of children might make it so and a motorist could be “pinched” if his car moved on that stretch at all until the danger was removed.” The matter was put to another motorist and he was asked his opinion abous a public meeting. “Something will have to be done,” ho said. “Whether a public meeting will get us anywhere I can’t say. It would do no harm. Tar-sealed roads in this country and the improvement made in motor-car machinery has brought a means of creating speed into the hands of too many people who are too young to appreciate the danger. It would not matter so much if they only endangered their own lives, but the pity of it is helpless women and children are implicated. If we are going to have tar-scaled roads we will need motor-cycle patrolmen at work day and night served by an efficient telephone service. If the main roads were linked up that way, with patrols to every so many miles and a means of communication from patrol to patrol, a few more of these speedsters would be brought to justice. When that happened though, the penalty would have to be severe. A second offender, in some cases even a first, should be deprived of his license. ’ >

A third motorist was dubious about a public meeting doing any good. “W T hat is the Automobile Association for?’’ he asked. “They do splendid work and it seems to be that a lead should come from them. We will never be without speedsters unless we take away the means wherewith to speed. Put governors on car engines limiting the speed to 30 miles an hour. Hold your public meeting if you like, but shake the Government up to inforce the use of those governors.’’