SAFETY ON MOTORCYCLES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 51, 2 March 1939, Page 9

SAFETY ON MOTORCYCLES

WANGANUI CLUB’S RULES SET OF PROPOSALS ADOPTED ADDRESS BY TRANSPORT OFFICER The Wanganui Motor-Cycle Club has adopted a series of safety proposals to reduce the risk of accidents on the roads. Mr. A. F. T. Chorlton, of the Transport Department, Wellington, addressed members of the club, after which the set of broad safety first rules were submitted and approved. The proposals agreed t? are: Use of s special plate for beginners carrying the letter “L” for learner to be issued immediately the motor-cycle is bought and the rider has been tested on road code and elementary knowledge of the machine, the plate to be carried fot from three to «ix months during which the rider would have a 45 m.p.h. speed restriction; also that he be subjected to a total prohibition of pillion-riding; magistrates be empowered to enforce use of such a plate. Stricter enforcement of the speed limit in built-up areas.

Speed limit for pillion-riders to be 45 m.p.h. on the open road. Speedometers' to be attached to every machine more than 250 c.c. (2J h.p.).

Crash-guards on new high-powered machines recommended. Stricter tests for learners. Encouragement of club membership and educational activities. The meeting rejected a proposal to raise the age limit for licences for motor-cycles from 15 years to li years. Nj Cut and Dried Proposals. The department had no cut and dried proposals, said Mr. Chorlton, but it was anxious to obtain the views of motor-cyclists of New Zealand as to the best means of preventing accidents on the road. Ihe motor-cycle in the hands of a sane and sensible rider was not a dangerous machine and the great majority of motor-cyclists did not handle the,.' machines in a dangerous mannei. There was a small, but irresponsible minority, however, that had to be checked and it was in the interests of all motor-cyclists to evolve some scheme, whereby this might be done. An inquiry had been directed to every city, borough and county council in New Zealand asking for j.hcir views of the problems and practically every one of the local bodies hue recommended the abolition of pillion riding, the imposition of a speed limit on the open road, and a more effective handling of the silencer problem. Views on Pillion-Riding Wanted. Mr. Chorlton said the department was anxious to obtain all views relating to the safety or otherwise ol the pillion-rider. Statistics indicated that a greater percentage ol motor-cyclists carrying pillion-riders were involved in accidents causing personal injury and these were more frequently fatal than solo accidents Statistics also showed the remarkable fact that more than 90 per cent ol accidents involving motor-cycles wca collisions with other mot t vehiA.es Less than five per cent, of motorcycle accidents were of tnc ’ off thread” variety, which was easily the most serious problem in motor acc.dents at the present time. While it might be contended thal an experienced rider added stability and braking efficiency to the machine inquests indicated that in many cases inexperienced piilion-riders, v her faced with a sudden emergency which might not have been created by the motor-cyclist, decided to move in ? direction different from that of the rider and an accident resulted. “Last year accidents cost New Zealand more than £1,000,000/’ said Mr Chorlton. “ ‘R,oad Safety Week proved that accidents are prevent able and Ihe Transport Departmen is going to take active measure during the present year with a viev to further reducing the accident rate Accident statistics indicate that th< motor-cyclist as a general rule is no very much more responsible for acci dents than are other types of roa? users. In fact, with collisions involv ing pedestrians and cyclists, the latte are more often at fault than motox cyclists. The department feels, how over, that the high casualty rate t( motor-cyclists demands a greate standard of care than is shown tr the irresponsible minority at th present time.” Ten Times as Many Car*. Mr. Chorlton said that though then were more than ten times as man. private cars as motor-cycles on th New Zealand roads, last year motor cyclists were involved in one-thir as many accidents as car drivers. There were irresponsible car-driv ers as there were irresponsible motor cyclists, but when cars with moder steel bodies were involved, accident were seldom as serious as those iwhich motor-cycles were involves Last year endeavours were mau’e o; many motor-cycle clubs to reduce th accident rate and in some centre excellent results were achieved. Th accident rate as a whole, howevei had shown little improvement an the number of fatalities had actuall increased. This was not wholly th fault of the motor-cyclist. Speeds o. the roads had increased and accident were now more serious.