DAY BY DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15980, 7 May 1924, Page 4

DAY BY DAY.

The distressing occurrence in Vic-

Hamilton Street Accidents.

toria Street on Tuesday, when a young man was almost instantaneously killed owing to a col-

lision between his bicycle and a motor car, once more draws attention to the undue freauency with which such accidents occur in Hamilton's 'mam thoroughfare. At, this stage it would be manifestly unfair to the driver of the motor car concerned in the fatality to express any opinion as to whether his vehicle was or was not travelling at dangerous speed. The facts in that particular instance will in due course be established by official investigation. It is not out of place, however, to point out that mishaps due to collisions in Victoria Street are very much more numerous than should be the case, and if accidents occurred in larger cities in similar proportion on a population basis the figures would be staggering. There have been . several fatalities owing to traffic mishaps in Hamilton's streets during the past two years, whilst the number of less serious traffic accidents has been legion. To put the matter plainly, it is the opinion of a great many residents that a pedestrian essaying to cross Victoria Street takes far more risk of personal injury than when negotiating Lambton Quf.y in Wellington or Queen Street in Auckland. A contributing cause, no doubt, is that traffic from practieally every direction must traverse a considerable portion of Victoria Street if

the main business quarter of the town is its destination. But over and above this is the fact that motor vehicles pass alcng Victoria Street at very much higher speeds than are compatible with the public safety. Since motorists appear to escape prosecution the inference is that the authorised speed limits are not generally exceeded. If this is the case those speed limits have not been fixed low enough, and in the interests of public safety should be reduced again by the powers that be. Street accidents are becoming a scandal in Hamilton, and it behoves the civic authorities to institute the most drastic measures if by this means alone a clamant reproach to the town may be removed.