A POINT OF SAFETY FIRST

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 53, 26 November 1926, Page 8

A POINT OF SAFETY FIRST

ENDANGERING humans to avoid dogs.

One direction in which the "Safety First” campaign might well be turned is brought to mind by a recent accident, when two pedestrians were killed through tile driver of a motor-car swerving in order to avoid a dog (states the “Autocar”). The seasoned motorist has generally schooled himself to act automatically upon the obviously sensible principle- that the safety of his passengers is of more importance than the safety of an animal, a contention which in no way indicates that the driver is callous as regards the non-human users of the highway. The novice, however, naturally enough, is apt, acting on the spur of the moment, to swerve in order to avoid some small animal when by so doing he may be putting in jeopardy pedestrians, cyclists and other car users, in addition to endangering his own passengers and himself.

When the road is clear and the speed is moderate, the humane driver will, of course, do all in his power to avoid running over a dumb animal, but in no circumstances should he swerve with this object in view when by so doing he imperils other human beings. In the case of the recent fatality the car was driven on to the pavement, where it knocked down several pedestrians, two of whom subsequently succumbed to their injuries. There are, however, occasions when fatal accidents may occur through a swerve even though the car may not actually leave the road. If the driver is travelling at high speed, an abrupt change of direction to avoid, say, a dog may posibly capside the vehicle, with disastrous results to its occupants. We emphasise this matter with no desire to encourage high-speed driving and certainly with no intention of suggesting that an animal’s life should be lightly treated. It must not be forgotten, however, that, when the alternative is between a fatality to an animal and a fatalitv to a man, woman, or child, there is only one choice to be made.

An unusual occurrence is reported from Workington, in England. As a car was nearing the golf course the universal joint broke, and as a result the floor boards were torn away. A passenger who was in the rear seat had his shoes torn right off his feet. He was conveyed to hospital, and it was found that his left foot was badlv lacerated and a toe had to be taken from lus right foot.

According to a bulletin of the American Research Foundation, the United States vearly uses 252 gallons of crude petroleuni per person, while the rest of the world uses 42 gallons to five persons.

Motor tourists thinking of visiting the far north mav be interested to learn from the Auckland “Herald” that the roads north of Auckland are generally in bad condition at present, consequent on the wet season.