ROAD SAFETY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 90, 13 October 1934, Page 26

ROAD SAFETY

A CRITIC OF ENGLAND

CONTRAST WITH CANADA

Certain aspects of traffic in Great Britain have deeply impressed me since my return home, after nine years' absence in Canada, writes J. Allan Cash in the London "Daily Telegraph."

Driving from Southampton,1 the first thing I noticed was the .narrow winding roads, with most of the curves and corners hidden by high hedges and banks. I have been accustomed to wide spaces at each side of the road, fences instead of dense hedges, and much stra^ghter roads than I find in England, particularly in the south. The most reckless motorist in Canada would drive slowly and cautiously on roads like these. Tet I found,countless motorists -, driving furiously and often recklessly, passing at corners and on hills when it was quite impossible to see any distance ahead. And the speed

at which many of them went through towns and villages astounded me. Oldworld villages with streets where two cars could barely pass seem to mean nothing to many English motorists, who apparently see no cause even to slow clown for them. No wonder that many pedestrians are knocked down. In Canada there is a strictly enforced speed limit of 20 miles per hour in all towns and-villages, and a motorist who "blinds" through these places very soon finds himself in trouble.

In Ontario, with which province I am most familiar as a motorist, every road entering a main highway has a prominent "Stop" sign at the end of it. Motorists must pull up before entering the main road, even though they can see clearly in either direction. Where two main roads cross,, it.is the custom to make one of them a. stop road. The same "Stop" sign :system applies in most towns and' villages also, and undoubtedly it makes, for safer and easier driving. I notice that everyone seems to drive "oh ■ the; horn " in England. That is) they ~sound their horns at curves and corners,' and then proceed as though this infernal noise automatically cleared away all possible obstacles. Overuse of the horn in Canada and the United States is considered.to: bo poor driving, and anyone who' does it is either: very inexperienced :and nervous, or. else, driving, too'fast.. '• CANADIAN SIGNPOSTING. Signs are-much more'in evidence on Canadian roadg than in England. In Ontario particularly they are large and clear.- They' are nearly" two feet square, mounted on posts about six feet high, and indicate by means of a broad black line: on-a'white ground such danger points as curves or side and crossroads. '. :. -.-■ i; ' . ■ They are particularly useful at night time, when they show up very clearly. Dangerous curves are also protected by large red reflectors, while at right-angle bends, where one might run off the road, one is confronted by a large black and white chequerboard, often many square feet in area. Pedestrians seem to be very careless and indifferent to motor-cars in England. They certainly do not jump out of the way at the sound of an approaching car as they do in Canada. They often seem to prefer walking on the road to use of the footpaths. The speed limit in Ontario is 35 miles per hour on the open roads. There are few, if any, police traps, but the highways are patrolled by motor-cycle policemen; who trail any drivers they see who appear to bo driving too fast. Motorists are often permitted to exceed the speed limit by 5, 10, or even. 15 miles per hour, but woe betide a fast driver once ho is "clocked" by a "motor-cycle cop." Most drivers in modern cars travel between 45 and 60 m.p.h. between towns. This is quite safe where traffic is not dense, the open roads being clear. Practically every curve is well banked, making for safety and the'elimination of that sickening, swinging sensation when eonnering on a flat road. There .secies little evidence that banked corners make for reckless driving. Oiie can take quite sharp curves comfortably at 45 m.p.h. when the road is scientifically banked and the road beyond is clearly in sight. STOPPING BEHIND TBAMCARS. Throughout all my travels on the American continent—and they have been considerable, from coast to coast ■ —I have never found a town or city where it was not forbidden for motorists to pass a stationary tramcar. This is strictly enforced. Even the tram driver and conductor have -the power to take the number of an offending car and report it to the police. I have been stopping for trams in England by instinct. ; ;■

Now I would like to mention one thing which is done better in England than it is in "Canada! It is signing ,by hand by drivers of cars. In' Ontario it is not done nearly. enough, and undoubtedly this causes accidents. Everyone seems to do it in England, and does it well and conscientiously.

Bus and lorry drivers I have found to be particularly gnod at signing one to overtake theni. 'They must keep a very sharp eye on their rear-view mirrors.

If 3000 oriel miles of driving in Britain by a conrnaratire stranger is enoutrh on which to base opinions, I would suggest that England needs the

following things to make life safer for everyone:—A speed limit through towns and villages of 20 m.p.h. maximum, and less in some places. "Stop" signs for all side roads and at. intersections where traffic lights are \not in operation. Many more road signs and larger ones. Still more road widening and elimination of curves. (England cannot have both beautiful, deep-set lanes and safe motoring.) Compulsory stopping behind stationary tramcars. More banking of roads at curves. Education of children, pedestrians, and drivers about safety first.

I would not suggest reimposingf, the speed limit between towns, but I should continue to be strict about reckless driving. Britain is a dangerous country to drive in, but in my opinion many of the danrers could be eliminated with comparative ease. .