THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1929.
CRIMINAL FEELING
WHY POLICEMEN BECOME
A "BOGEY"
[By the Hon. Mrs. Victor Bruce] I was driving through London not long ago, with a girl friend who has enjoyed possession of her first car for little more than a month, when a policeman stepped off the kerb and signalled her to stop, which, of course, she did. Opening the window of the little
Coupe, she said;-
Well, what have I done wrong
now?"
"Nothing, Miss." replied Robert, But do you know that your lamp's are alight?"
the ill-effects upon others which may result from an accident, but even that, I expect, is coming.
Expired Licences And, talking of insurance re- minds me of a little legal point which very few motorists appre- ciate. I should hesitate to guess the proportion of drivers who carelessly allow their driving licences to run a few days over their period before applying for a renewal. In many instances the careless ones think to themselves: "Oh, well I'll get a new licence to-morrow, and if I am stopped in the meantime it will only mean a
small fine."
Very likely, and what is a few pounds one way or the other to the Idle Rich? But just turn up
somenesses.
Provided
THE CHINA MAIL,
a fence in a
Indisputable Witnesses
wheel on a public road without ance claims, it seems scarcely legal consequences. As we know, worth while, as well as being un- thousands of inexperienced dignified, to enter into heated motorists gain their practice on arguments, especially as the the roads, and speaking generally necessity of securing witness at they come to, and cause no harm. all times a difficult task-is likely But should they be involved in to be lost sight of until such an accident due to their lack of possible witnesses have had an skill, I wonder if they are aware opportunity of making them- that the law would make no selves scarce. allowance for that fact. Ignor. ance is no more motoring case than in any other, and the charge that they would have to answer would be that of "negligent driving." It is a very good reason, if one were needed, for using the greatest possible case, and proceeding at such a pace that the car is well in hand, in the light of the driver's lack of skill, until proficiency has been achieved.
your insurance policy-if you can find it. Mine promises me indem-
Accident Precautions She thanked him, and we hity against claims at law for in-
None of us believes that he will, jury or damage to property, and drove on. As a matter of fact. cash payments for various grue through his own fault, be involved one generally finds Tendon police-
always in an accident, but it is no use men most helpful and courteous that the car is being driven by a ignoring the fact that with the but, my friend's remark is illus licensed driver, whether myself, utmost care in the world some trative of the unpleasant feeling or friend, or a paid chauffeur. one else may run into us. The which is at the back of every motorist's mind.
Apparently the policies of dif- greater our own skill and caution, With experi- ferent companies are worded the more likely are we to be able ence we become hardened; but I differently, for I find in that of a to avoid the consequences of other think every beginner must be friend the proviso that the compeople's misdeeds-but accidents haunted by "that criminal feel-pany will not be liable if the car will happen. In such an event, ing."
is being driven "by a person and presuming that there is no Speed Regulations
who is not competent to human injury-or, if there is, Promises, pie crusts and speed drive motorcars," Well, com- after it has been attended to the limits were made to be broken,petency may be an elastic term, principal care of the driver should and, although I suppose It would
be to obtain the names of wit- be possible to avoid the slightest
nesses, and to take such observa- offence against the letter of the
tions and, even measurements of law, actually no user of a motor
the scene of the crash as may be vehicle pays the elightest atten-
required in any subsequent pro- tion to the speed regulations
ceetings. There is a very natur- We travel as fast as is safe and
al tendency among the people con- convenient-and when I say
cerned in an accident to blame "We," do not forget that even
each other. the Home Secretary and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, not to mention, probably, the Lord Chief Justice, may be numbered among us..
The twenty-mile speed limit of Britain is admittedly antiquated and useless. But the result of the retention of the out of date speed laws is that every drive has to divide his attention - tween admiration of the scenery and a close search for hidden policemen! Hence the criminal feeling.
A worse result, however, is that our attempt for the twenty mile limit, we are apt to give. local ten mile limits less atten"" tion than they really deserve. There are, no doubt, plenty of places in this country where the existence of such a reduced speed limit is ludicrous, but generally speaking-and especially when the motorist is travelling over fresh country-the ten mile specd limit sign may be taken as evid- ence of need for extreme caution.
Hidden Meanings
The same thing applies to motoring in France and on the continent generally. There may be no maximum speed limit in the open country, but the greatest possible care is necessary in vill- lages and the necessity is often indicated by 2 reduced speed limit.
Inevitably, the motorist is in constant touch with the law in some respect or other, Before you can drive the car at all, you must have a licence to do so, the number plates must comply with exact regulations, and certain forms of lighting may and may not be used. At the moment it is not compulsory to ensure against
and a driver with an expired licence might be regarded as legally incompetent. In any event, it is quite clear that in carrying on after the expiration of the driving licence, you not only risk that negligible fine, but you are uninsured against a claim for damage to which there is no limit a claim which might cause your financial ruin.
Elastic Incompetency" The question of competency re- minds me of another point. Since no evidence of proficiency is required before a driving licence is issued in Britain, it is possible for a totally incompetent driver to be in possession of the
"If you kept on your right side this sort of thing would not hap- pen."
"I was on my right side-it was your fault, you were going much too fast round the corner!"
And all that sort of thing.
But when you remember that the question of culpability does not affect the settlement of insur-
It is a good idea, by the way, if you happen to have a camera with you and the light is good enough, to photograph the scene of the accident. If not, you cau sketch it diagramatically, and pace out the various distances concerned. It is better to have a policeman, or the representative of one of the motoring organisa- tions on the spot, if possible.
The same 'advice in regard to avoiding argument applies if we fall foul of the police in any way. If you happen to be caught in a police trap, try and look upon it as bad luck, and polish up such homely proverbs as "A still tongue maketh a wise head," or "Silence is golden." Never blame the police. for after all they are only doing their duty. Also, your comments in the natural heat of the moment will not sound so witty when they are road in the police court, and will probably cast you an extra pound or so.
Still, we do not all have acci- dents, or get into the clutches of the law, and on the whole we are a very happy band of criminals!
"Singapore Free Press."
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142 3,700
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144 4,480
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193 6,720 1,150
56 1,188
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193 11,200 210 6,970
1,150 1,200
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177
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64 1,264
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