THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE ROAD

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1929, Page 2

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE ROAD

NEED FOE MORE COURTESY. LONDON, October 18. A striking appeal to •motorists to exercise more courtesy on the roads was made by the l’rince of Wales at the Commercial Motor Users’ Association banquet at the Savoy Hotel this week. “The problem of the roads is a very serious one,” he said, “and it may be a very much more serious one if all the commercial motor users and the private motor users do not get together and co-operate to prevent this becoming a very battle of the roads.” The Prince referred to his own experience as a motorist and an airman, and made his appeal, “looking from my new vantage point.” “One of the most important things commercial and private automobile users have in common,” said the Prince, “is that we share the same reads. Let me talk for one minute of what I may call the psychology of the road.

“That is a thing that we motorists must have studied at many times. Take the private motor used wlio is at times extremely inconsiderate. He never thinks of the unfortunate man who is driving a lorry, say, from Bristol or Birmingham, or very much further afield, and is arriving in London, and he is always inclined to put • him over the rails. (Laughter.) The next time that lorry driver meets a motor he has to get a hit back and does not draw into the side of the road and get out of the way.”

AN ACCIDENT STORY. The Prince then told a storv of a friend of his who became involved in an accident. “-My f riond had a very had accident after a fellow collided with him going at a very great speed. My friend was very badly injured, and the driver of the other car was hurt even more. Y\ hen ho was in hospital the first thing that the other driver said when he came to after two days was: ! I hope I have not lost my nerve.’ My friend said: ‘lf T could only afford it 1 would give that fellow a horse and let him try his nerve in Leicestershire.’ ” —(Loud laughter.) Commercial users of motors, the Prince added, could impress on their employees to give room to these vehicles built for .another purpose, and enable people to keep their appointments by not blocking the road. The Prince referred to a book which had been sent to him concerning trials for heavy motor vehicles held in Liverpool in 1898. “Even in those early days,” he said, “special attention was paid to noise, smell, visible vapour, and other nuisances when driving. Although some of us may wonder if there has been very much improvement in that direction, we have to admit a very substantial (advance in the average speed of commercial motor vehicles, which ware then required to reach a speed of only six miles per hour in class one, and four miles per hour in class two.”—(Loud laughter.)

NEW ROAD LEGISLATION. Mr Herbert Morrison, Minister of Transport, said tlm.t tbe Government lmd carefully considered the first report of the Royal Commission on Transport, which dealt with the control of traffic on roads, and would shortly have the second report dealing with the licensing and regulation of public service vehicles. It was impossible any longer to defend tbe present system of licensing, based as it was on Acts which were passed long before motor vehicles were known. Tbe urgency of traffic control and licensing' was fully recognised by the Government, and would be dealt with at the earliest practical moment.