The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1927. MOTOR TRAFFIC.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17008, 22 January 1927, Page 4

The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1927. MOTOR TRAFFIC.

The record of street accidents in Auckland during the past three months is sufficiently serious to call for attention. In the last quarter of 1926 there were eleven deaths and seventy-nine persons were injured. The number of collisions reported was 280 for the three months, and it is a noticeable feature that many of these occurred with motor-lorries. Motorcycles also figure prominently, and it would be interesting to know the percentage of accidents that take place with each class of vehicle. It is commonly said that pedestrians are often to blame for the accidents that take place, and there is much itruth in this, although hlame is scarcely the right word to use. Motor traffic has developed so rapidly that the public are not yet accustomed to it, and still observe the same customs that they did in the days of horse-drawn traffic. As they become better acquainted with the dangers of traffic we may hope that the percentage of accidents to pedestrians will diminish. We have also much to learn in this country respecting the control of traffic. London is always admitted to be the model for all cities in this matter, and in London the inspector, who is always a policeman, regards himself as responsible for the pedestrian as much as for the vehicle. In this country the regulation of traffic has not been held to include care of the pedestrian, and in Auckland, if not elsewhere, the regulation has been taken out of the hands of the police. But while we may reasonably hope for some improvement in lire safety of pedslrians, (here is no indication at the present time of any in the position of motor traffic. It is growing at a great rale; the accidents take place very often with motor-lorries, and it is in that class of vehicle that we may expect a great increase. They arc frequently drhen by hired labour, so that one motive for care is wanting. There is a demand’ that more skilful drivers shall he employed, and this is certainly desirable, but it is not easy to enforce it. A man may know perfectly well how to drive, so that ire could pass any test, yet he may be careless or reckless, though neither of these would be detected by a test. Magistrates could do something to improve matters by cancelling a license to drive for a longer or shorter period when an offender is brought before them who has shown carelessness. Every accident, however, is not due to carelessness. There are now a number of vehicles on the road enormously in excess of anything imown before, and those vehicles arc all accustomed to travel at a speed which is greater than that which has been usual in the past. It is not wonderful that accidents take place, and the number is likely to increase rather than diminish. We are still in the early days of- motor traffic, and it is impossible to say what it may grow to. It may be that the main reads in cities and towns will all have to be widened. At present local bodies are busy endeavouring to cope with the requirements by providing better roads, and those who have given no thought to the matter complain of the amount of money spent. If motor traffic is to be possible that work must continue, and motor-lorries must contribute to the expense of roadmaking and maintenance. Whether they pay enough at the present time is an arguable question, but it cannot be disputed that the lorry of under two tons should pay its quota. The private car owner should also he called on to contribute. At' present the work done on the roads'is mainly paid for by rates on property, but when it is done it results in a large saving to the car-owner in tyres and petrol. The car-owner would usually be quite willing to pay a fee in order to ensure good roads. Another matter which will require attention is the making of roads. Hitherto this has been regarded as a very humble -part of the engineer’s profession, and often enough it has been handed over to a foreman. The result was not satisfactory even under the conditions of horse-drawn traffic, and certainly will not do under the greater requirements of motor traffic. In London they have recognised lire necessity of greater skill by establishing a chair of Road Engineering at the London University. There is another consideration wheih will have to be borne in mind. The motor traffic is leading to the investment of very large sums of money while running costs are heavy and unfortunately are largely imports. Road construction is costing very large sums also, and will continue to do so for years lo come. We shall have to be careful that we do not spend too fast. The advantages of motor traffic are great, and the expenditure will in most cases he profitable, but even so we cannot afford to go ahead too fast. The motor traffic is also affecting both railways and trams, and a certain amount of injury to capital will be done. The idea, however, that it can be blocked and prevented is grotesque, and worthy only of China. Opr business is to make the best of an improved system of transport. No doubt we shall learn from experience to avoid some of the accidents which are now so frequent, but until improvements are made lo roads it is to lie roared that there will he many regrettable cases. Motor transport is comparable in its course to the advent ot railways, which have done so much for the civilisation of the world. When we hear of motors running a regular service from Jerusalem lo Damascus, or to Bagdad, we may feel that the unknown parts of the world are brought close to us, and that romance .is a thing of the past-