REDUCING ACCIDENTS.

Shannon News, 7 June 1929, Page 3

REDUCING ACCIDENTS.

VISCOUNT CECIL’S PLAN. A STARTLING SUGGESTION The startling suggestion that the best way to stop motor-speeding and thus eliminate a large proportion of: motoring accidents would be to build “standardised ditches” across main roads was made by Viscount, Cecil in the House of Lords. T.n introducing the subject he propounded the statistics of motor accidents in an unusual form. According to his own calculations, during the hours of daylight in Great Britain: . One person is killed every hour by a motor ear. One person is injured every two minutes. One accident occurs every minute. Referring to his suggestion with regard to ditches, or depressions, across main roads, he explained that the object of these obstructions would be to cause “very serious inconvenience to any car going too fast in the particular circumstances. ” Day and night warning signals of tlie “depressions” would bo erected. Mechanical Check. His measure also embodies proposals for: ' . , . - Examinations for skill and physical fitness. Compulsory third party insurance. Autdmatic suspension for not less than three months, of all persons convicted of dangerous or negligent dnvAlthough the speed-limit was 20 , D'iles per hour, cars were advertised, he said, to do 50, 60, 80 and even 120 miles per hour. It was ‘ an outrage or. humanity.” Lord Denman, who moved the rejection, said the bill, as a whole, would increase road accidents. As to ability-to-drivc examinations, more accidents were caused by the skilful driver who relied on his skill than by any other class. Motorists seemed to think they had a monopoly of the roads, and that all pedestrians had to clear out of their way “like blackboetlcs before a broom.” , . He described an experience of nis own in the streets of Westminster. “I was crossing the road as a policeman had released the traffic without seeing me. Did any of the motor cars let me pass! On the contrary, .they advanced in a solid phalanx without any regard for me, and as best as I was able I had to get out of their -way. ’ ’ He made a strong protest against the use of dazzle headlights, “that leave you completely paralysed for two minutes after the car- has/passed/^Those