MOTOR REGULATIONS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18362, 21 April 1925, Page 11

MOTOR REGULATIONS.

TO THB EDITOR OF "THE FKSS." Sir,—l am an overseas visitor, and as such have been greatly struck with tho fact that wherever I have been in New Zealand the common subject of talk in hotels is motor aecidents, actual and possible, and the question of speed, etc. Recently I read an article in your paper on English express trains and their speed. I have travelled thousands of miles over these without sign of accident, but although only a few months as yet in this country, I consider myself lucky to have esaped damage by motors. Of course, the great difference betwen rail and road travel is that tho former is confined to a well-defined 'and laid track and tho motive power is in the hands of an experienced and often elderly man, whereas the latter is running on a road changing every few hundred yards, and the engine in charge of—well, anyone. There are young men and women, not to speak of boys (as I have seen in this city), driving cars in Canterbury to-day, who certainly should not be allowed on the roads. Some of the byno one makes even an attempt to carry out, and I read in your paper that a magistrate in a neighbouring town says they are ridiculous, and that ho would not convict under some of them.

From daily conversation I listen to, it seems that with some people 40 miles an hour on yonr country roads ig nothing—perhaps even' slow—and that a public service eaT with'a load of eight or nino people should quito safely career along your hilly : roads at 3o miles per hour. I taarvel vfhen I hear this, and wonder if such people have any idea of the actual power of the many fine motor engines I'see in your streets. What I object to as a traveller in a British country is this:—l have to go to certain places by motor, and after buying my ticket at a public or Government office, when I proceed to the starting place I am obliged to ride in an already overcrowded vehicle at a speed entirely depending upon the caprice of the driver. He may not valuo his body ■—l do mine. Laws ought to bo rigorously enforced as follows on at least all public motor scrvies:— Number of passengers for each car,, and ajplato exhibited stating this. Not more than one passengor to sit with the driver.

'Maximum speed—within . vertain. districts and in town. There are many more minor points, but I will not trespass further on your space, and I am sure that all. sensible citizens •will agree that much more requires to be done than at present to make motor travelling'safe in this district.' I enclose my card.—Yours, etc., J TEAYELLEE. Chiistchurch, April 18th, 1925.