“SAFETY FIRST.”

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18165, 1 November 1930, Page 5

“SAFETY FIRST.”

ROAD ACCIDENTS. (R. E. Champtaloup, touring manager A. A. A.) I make no apologies for again bringing to your notice the question of “Safety First.” The annual death roll from motor vehicle accidents has increased rapidly during the past five j years and an endeavour is being made J by my association to induce all users of the King’s highway to exercise more care and to live and preach "Safety First.” Be on the Alert. It must net be thought that every j accident is due to the carelessness of j the motorist; pedestrians also have their failings, and both sections must plead guilty of being the original cause of many minor, as well as serious accidents. A person who: has never driven a motor car finds it difficult to sympathise with the driver s point, of view, but a motorist can usually appreciate the pedestrian’s dif- ! Jlcully, 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 know certain things with which they should be familiar, or because they do not think about them. Perils of the road are of our own making. During the -coming summer when the traffic will be thick on the various 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 safety is really qiute a simple matter. To obtain at for yourself, and for 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 and customs of the road are, -and you have to allow for tlie 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 singio car type where a careless driver will cause an accident irrespective of what precautions you may take.

Observe the White Lines. In 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 side. Unfortunately the local bodies in and 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 sanyhes of metal for permanent white lines which may .perhaps, induce local bodies to lay down more of these precautionary measures. By shooting across (he road on the wrong side of -a corner, you endanger traffic approaching in the opposite direction. You may get away wild this time after time, but sooner r.r later you must learn a severe lesson. Our highways present -so many delightful scenes that motorists are in the habit of stopping to admire the beauties of nature; but be careful not to park your cm’ right on a corner

where it is liable to cause a passing car to swing out. to the wrong sidt of the road and thus run the risk o: meeting approaching traffic. The samt I thing applies when changing a whee lor mending a puncture. Pull youi J car well over to the left of the roac | and leave the highway -clear for mov- ,; ing traffic. j Never attempt to pass anothei vehicle going in the same direction, j unless you have clear visibility and a ' 1 good view of the road ahead. It is a common fault to fail to give traffic ■ sginals 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. Even supposing you have resolved to take all these precautions, you must still no-t forget that other drivers may not be so considerate or as intelligent as yourself. You may come one day, on a motorist who has misjudged his speed on a corner and his wheels are well over op the wrong ■side of the road and out of control. Be prepared for these emergencies and act accordingly. Be Courteous. 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-abid-ing folk and if you give way to them, they will usually return the compliment. Again, if passing an overtaken vehicle, be careful not to cut in front of him too soon. You may not ouly frighten him, but perhaps flying stones from your rear wheels may penetrate his windscreen. In traffic, do not let your attention be distracted by people on the pavement, but keep your eyes ahead, ever on the watch for some unseen danger, and again, when you have been hailed by a pal, do not execute a quick turn in the road without giving the slightest warning to the traffic behind you. Think Ahead. It is by the observance of such small points as these that you can alt enjoy 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 1 be prevented. Cultivate always, the habit of “thinking ahead.” speculate as to what every crossing and every turning will bring, and. act accordingly. If there are any suggestions which readers could make with a view to stressing the necessity of “Safety First,” please send a postcard to the Auckland Automobile Association, P.O. Box 5, Auckland and they will receive due consideration.