TOO MANY MOTOR ACCIDENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 283, 19 August 1918, Page 6

TOO MANY MOTOR ACCIDENTS

' MEDICAL MAN'S STATEMENT. During (ho course of the inquest at the Christchurch Hospital on Saturday morning concerning the death of Ronald Opie, Dr. W. Fox, superintendent at the Hospital, said he would like to draw attention to the enormous number of accidents that took place nowadays in connection with the motor traffic. The Coroner (Mr. Bishop) said he had been alive to. that fact for some time past. Dr. Fox, continuing, stated that 50 per cent, more accidents wsre caused by motoring than' any othor classes of accidents. Ho thought some attempt showld be made to regulate the motor traffic. At present no heed was paid. Ho commented on the. speed of inotorists past tho Hospital, and also along Park Terrace. It was time the polico took somo notice. On-Thursday' lnst five people had been brought in to the Hospital suffering from accidents, and two of then nad been run ovor by motorists. Hβ had, from a. window, seen one small boy knocked over ■by a motor and left in the roadway, ,tho motorist going on. Mr. Bishop said that he had repeatedly drawn attention to the matter and spoken strongly on it. ■ The traffic ought to Deregulated. After referring to tlie speed at which inotorists wore now going, tho Coroner remarked that tho traffic could only be regulated by the police with the assistnnco of tho authorities, and the offenders brought to book. Dr. Fox touched on tho requirements to enable a person to drive a (ho passing of a driving lest and tlie i>aymont of a license fee: but he thoug.it something more than this was necessary. Consideration should bo turned to temperament in the qualification of a. motor driver. Mr. Bishop: Some of theni have no consideration for human beings.