SILENT DRIVING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 June 1938, Page 9

SILENT DRIVING

CONSIDERED A DANGEROUS PRACTICE. VIEWS OF BRITISH M.P. Sir William Brass, M.P., and an old athletic Blue for Cambridge, had a surprise for the House of Lords Select Committee on road accidents, when he gave evidence. He said that years before they were adopted in Britain he suggested driving tests, “major road ahead” signs, traffic lights and pedestrian crossings, to the Ministry of Transport. "The Ministry has not got the foresight it should have,” he said. Sir William then criticised the silent motorist. Motorists on the Continent, he said, used their hooters much more than drivers in this country. “People in this country rather pride themselves on driving about without making any noise at all,” he went on. “I think that is a dangerous practice. I have saved my life on several occasions by the use of the hooter.” Sir William said that he had the words "Thank you” painted on the blind at the back of his car. When another driver waved him on and made way for him to overtake, he showed the message. “It is greatly appreciated by all the drivers I have passed," he said. Sir William said that he did not think the 30-m.p.h. limit was a success. In its place he suggested a limit only on narrow roads where it could be enforced and in special places where a real danger existed. Mr G. T. Bennett, county surveyor of Oxfordshire, on behalf of the County Surveyors’ Society, said that the society felt that if road defects were removed there would be a very substantial reduction in the number of accidents.