Courtesy of the Road

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 972, 15 May 1930, Page 10

Courtesy of the Road

TOLL OF MOTOR ACCIDENTS 'l’llE four-wheel brake is in itself one of the greatest devices 1 toward making motoring safe. But it has not improved road courtesy, and courtesy and safety are synonymous terms. Stopping abruptly without giving the signal, crossing intersections at high speeds, and other road evils are encouraged by such a perfect system of braking. So many of the accidents today are unnecessary and would be prevented were there a better knowledge among motorists generally of what was really the etiquette of the road.

A cursory perusal of statistics for last year, indicating the toll of motor fatalities, is in itself a cry for more caro on the road. The total number of deaths resulting from motor accidents last year was 197. the highest figure recorded, and, unfortunately, 1930 has made a bad start, the Easter period being a disastrous week. Of the 197 deaths last year 17S were due to collisions, overturnings, etc., and the remaining 19 followed accidents in which motor vehicles collided with or were struck by trains, trams, etc. There is perhaps a slim consolation in the fact that the increase in fatalities involving motorists and pedestrians last year is only two more than the total for the previous year, but the toll for a country of the population of New Zealand is appallingly high. It is also interesting to note that the total of accidental deaths in New Zealand last year was 359, and more than half of this number resulted from accidents in "which motor-vehicles were involved. The fact that the increasing number of motor-cars has led to an increase in the number or traffic inspectors, and that a licence to drive is not the easiest of things to obtain in a city like Auckland, has probably led to more courtesy on the road today than yesterday, but as yet, it is not sufficient. Numbers of careful drivers have their own unwritten rules by which they provide themselves with additional assurance of avoiding troubles on the road. They do not rely on their horns when approaching a pedestrian—child or adult. . The fact that traffic rules give them the right-of-way holds small Interest for them for, “perhaps the other fellow does not know that we have the right-of-way,” they say. There are many unwritten rules which, if the motorist gave

thought or care, he would soon discover for himself. The majority of motor accidents result from selfishness and the motorist’s failure to drive as he would that others should drive. Some motorists become addicted to -the bad habit of showing off. It cannot be regarded as particularly clever to drive up to a traffic block or any other necessary stoppage at a high speed and then jam on the brakes for the purpose of effecting a spectacular stop. If there is any credit for such a feat it is due to the car and its makers and certainly not to the driver. If every driver and pedestrian would exercise that courtesy which they would ordinarily show to each other in any other circumstances than on the road, the number of motoring accidents would undoubtedly be greatly reduced. One of the worst faults is that of not giving sufficient warning to the motorist in the car behind that you are about to swing across to the right to turn about, or take a corner. This is dangerous and discourteous, as also it is to take corners on the wrong side, to cut-in and take things fine or to overtake at corners or bends without a certain knowledge of a clear road. To descend hills at a high speed or to drive too close and speed past other cars, is also discourteous and most dangerous. It is courteous and considerate (a) to keep well to the left; (b) to overtake only after making sure that the road is clear and after giving warning; (c) to listen for warning signals from the rear, to signal on overtaking traffic, if the road is clear, and having done so, to let it get past; (d) to use your horn discretion; (e) to exercise special care in passing all animals; (f) to draw up at the near side of the road, with the flow of traffic, and no-t against it.