THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1929.
ACCESSORIES
THE REPUBLIC MOTOR CO. OF CHINA. 30-32 Des Voeux Rd. C.
Spare Parts
Batteries,
etc., ete
MOTOR LAWS
New Regulations At Home
Electric Accessories, etc., etc.
THE
"SAFETY FIRST"
Joint Duty To Avoid Accidents
CHINA MAIL,
SHOWING ITS PACES
Guy Lorry In Australia
The Lord Chief Justice (Lord A Guy 30 cwt. "ON" type lorry, Hewart) commented on the Jaw re-loaded with 300 gallons of patrol, lating to negligence by motorists recently left Melbourne for a 375 and
contributory negligence by miles journey to Mildura. Its total pedestrians when summing up to a laden weight was just over 3 tons special jury in the King's Bench 10 ewfa. It arrived at Ballarat (77 Division.
miles) at 9 p.m. on the same day, Mr. Joseph Dancler, of Orsett- but the actual running time was only terrace, Paddington, had sued Mr. 4 hours. Ernest Lionel Holliss, of New This section is rather hilly, but Pond Farm, Ruislip, claiming dam-the truck proved to be an excellent ages for personal injurios.
cumber, third gear being only used On May 15 last Mr. Daneler was three times and second gear once. crossing Regent Street, when he was The maximum speed was 20 miles knocked down by the motor-car per hour, with an average through driven by Mr. Holliss. He received out the journey of 17 m.p.h. At a fracture of his left arm. The de- 6,30 a.m. the following morning the fence was that Mr. Dancier was journey was continued for 96 miles, negligent, as he crossed the road when a stoppage was made through without looking, and without heed-ahortage of petrol. Replenishing. ing traffic. It was stated that there the journey was continued, and was frozen snow on the road, and Avoca WBB reached at 9.15 a.m. that when the brakes were applied After a stay of a quarter of an hour. the car skidled forward with the
the journey Was made to St. the speed-limit for motor-eurs hag back wheels locked.
Arnaud (161 miles). The road from been carefully examined. While
Lord Howart said that the word Ballarat was dry and in places the the Transport Ministry has come to "negligence" was used in ordinary surface was the concnsion that the
very bad. All hills present conversation, and probably the per- were taken on top, third gear being statutory limit should be abolished, sons who wred it meant by it nothing only used once, and then over a very power is to be retained to prescribe more than carelessness. In law neuneven stretch. The day's journey During the war (writes a corres-
limits of speed particular areas. gilgence had a definite and re- was completed at Lascelles. After pondent) I was vastly intrigued by In the absence of a generaljstricted meaning. the sight of a confidential map of speed-limit, motorists will become In order to be satisfied that there was unformed practically the whole leaving Donald the road traversed London which bore a series of subject to is stiff penalty if convict was negligence of an actionable of the distance to Woomolang (249 mysterious red dots. These marked of reckless, negligent, or dan-kind, the jury had to be satisfied miles) and at times bad patches of ed the places where the German gerous driving, as it is the view that the defendant did something drift sand were traversed. Zepps and Gathas had planted their of the Ministry that this will afford which a reasonable person would presents upon the citizens of Lon-better protection for the public, and not have done, or
The journey was resumed the next had omitted don. This week I have seen a map will make for greater safety on the to do something which a reasonable morning at 8 o'clock, and from this very similar in conception. The
roads than a speed-limit.
time on was fuil of excitement. main point of difference is that it la The question of compulsory in-den of proof was on the person who Sund, bad, pot-holes, deep ruts, etc., embellished by many more, dotssurance against third-party risks complained of negligence.
were encountered, but the GUY has been engaging the attention of The chart to which I make re the Government. Ministers are default would not dispense another prising ease.
The fact that one person was in surmounted all obstacles with aur- ference is to be seen at Scotland unitely in favour of legislative ac-person from the duty of exercising miles) it was necessary at times to Yard and it is covered with tenth tion to ensure that claims for in- ordinary care, but if the defendant deviate from roads in course of re- : dots in various colours, blue if a juries or damage, when fully could, by the exercise of ordinary newal and travel through the virgin motor-car or cycle was concerned, established, should be met.
care and diligence, have avoided the black for a tram-car, green for a it is proposed to require from accident, the plaintiff's negligence cab, red for an omnibus, and so on, every applicant for 4 driving would not excuse the defendant. for - London'a traffic takes a far licence
a declaration of physical There might be circumstances in greater toll of life than that ever fitness. Any deliberate misrepre- which it was true to say that what will be punishable with a severe sentation when filling up the form was complained of was the result of
than the others.
contemplated by the Germans.
One very large map is an eight years record of death dots to give line. the authorities still further guid-
It seems that at long last we are ance to the death traps. This re-really to have sane motoring laws. cord proves that the deadliest place in the country of London is High Street, Camden Town, where, at a point just above the Cobden statue, 17 lives have been sacrificed.
The Angel at Islington has a re- cord nearly as black. More than
70 deaths are spread along Com- mercial Road.
Death Trap
There are frequent death traps also in Whitechapel Road, Mile End Road, Vauxhall Bridge Road, Old, Kent Rond and Oxford Street.
The lesson of the maps is that the acoldents occur where the
.
DEATH AT WHEEL Conductor Averts Crash
person would have done. The bur
From Ouyon (299
Mallee. One auch detour of 11⁄2 miles was so bad with deep, loose sand that third gear was used the whole of the distance. During this stage a private car was found badly the simultaneous and combined the journey. Mildura was reached bogged, but the GUY extricated it from its predicament and continued
gligence of plaintiff and defend- ant.
at 3 p.m.
No Fault of Both
A remarkable feature about the
Lord Hewart, "that if tive children one drop of water was added to the
"We learn in the nursery," said whole journey was the fact that rat! spill the jam by something which radiator, and the water level proved they are both doing the governess to be the same at the end of the
The may say with perfect truth. This journey.
speed is the fault of both of you.
throughout the whole of the journey You; John, and you, Mary, are both to wa 18.3 miles per hour, and the
average
of blame, and you are naughty chil-petrol consumption worked out at an
average of 13.4 miles per gallon.
A 'bus conductor's presence mind in stopping his 'bus when the dren' driver collapsed was commended by
the Cheam (Surrey) Coroner (Mr. had been used in the case, was one The word "contributory" which F. J. Nightingale) at an inquest of the most misleading expressions on the driver, William Penn, aged known to the common law. It was
1, of Earlsfield, London, S.W.
misleading because, when it was
The conductor, Richard Chincy, used in this kind of context, it meant of Merton Park, said that Penn had something different from what it traffic is heaviest and most congest-complained of not feeling woll before meant in the ordinary parlance of ed, and not in places where it is the 'bus started. While he was life.
fasteat. By the exhibition of more "Please Cross here" notices, by re-
arrangements of stopping-places
collecting fares in London Road,
conse
North Cheam, he noticed the 'bus Hewart, "the misleading
"You can imagine," said Lord slow up and veer to the offside of quences of using that word 'contri- the road. He jumped off, ran to batory about negligence when the vision of more refuges and improv-the front, and applied the brakes. law is, and common-sense la, that it
for omnibuses or trams, by the pro-
ed plans for controlling traffic, it is hoped to reduce the toll of life in all these places.
In several places rotary traffic is still regarded as experimental, but it bears the test of igures well. The number of fatal accidents has been reduced in the centres where roundabout traffic is in operation. The deaths are down so far by about ten a year. That is consider ed to outweigh a slight increase in people injured.
The official view is that the in- creased pace of the traffic at these places is teaching the public to be more careful. Londoners in the main have their own carelessness to thank for the increase in road tragedies.
Penn had collapsed in his cab.
Dr. Greene said that death was due to fatty degeneration of the heart which was a difficult condition to diagnose, and might cause death at any moment.
does not matter if.a man was negli-
for the negligence the accident gent unless it is true to say that but would not have happened."
The jury's task was to decide who who was responsible for the accid- In reply to the coroner, a represent, remembering that both the sentative of the London General plaintiff and the defendant had the Omnibus Company said that drivers duty of avoiding, if possible, the were' medically examined before be- consequences of negligence on the ginning employment, but not again part of the other.
unless they complained of illness or had been Ill.
Referring to the fact that Mr. Dancier was crossing from the foot- natural causes, the coroner said that Bald that in these days of "safety Recording a verdict of death from path to a street refuge, Lord Hewart It was fortunate the accident hap-first" people were exhorted to look pened in a quiet place. Its conse- both ways before crossing the road. quences were minimised by the con- and the jury must decide whether ductor's prompt action.
WHY SPEED LIMIT FEARS?
Mr. Dancier's acts were consistent with the behaviour of a reasonable jand prudent man. If they were satisfied that Mr. Dancler locked up Referring to the projected now the road before he started to cross Traffic Bill, "The Motor" refers to and found the road clear, could they' the policy of delay adopted by the say that he was negligent for not late Government, and states that continuing to look to the right or the
feara entertained centred not looking to the right again? of the Mr. Holliss has applied the brakes, What more could
Bray But Safe The Ministr of Transport does not accept the view that as motor vehicles increase in number a cor- responding increase in accidents is inevitable. One of the safest spots in the busy parts of London is Hyde Park Corner, where, on a busy day mainly on about 72,000 vehicles pass in twelve speed limit and public opinion the car skidded. hours. Yet three years not one
Our contemporary re-lhe have done?
thereon:
person has been injured fatally, marks:-
there in crossing the road.
the abolition
The jury returned a verdict for "There is really no reason why the motorist, Mr. Holliss, and judg-
Officers with years of experience the present Minister of Transport ment was entered accordingly, with in busy centres are practically should entertain any qualms of costs. agreed that London's chief fight in .conscience in abrogating a speed the battle for safer streets is a fight limit of 20 miles per hour. ngainst common Many of them are convinced that has only to bring to his mind the fact that members of the public are now
carelessness.
Abolition of the Speed Limit London's traffic is so well re- gulated that where accidents occur the driver of the vehicle concerned
Ho
PEDESTRIANS.
"Taking Drivers By
Surprise
in view of the recklessness and ab-in very large numbers .sent-mindedness which thousands of making journeys on the roads in
pedestrians display daily, It is our- prising that the number of people long distances at speeds varying motor ceaches which travel over killed is not even greater.
from 20 m.p.h. "to as much as 40 returned at the inquest at Hackney, A verdict of sccidental death was .p.. and that the passengers on Thomas Waterlow Francis, 75, expect these journeys to be ac-of Norah Street, Bathnal Green, complished in schedule time. is usually found to be practically and in its place we should have Road, South Hackney. The driver "The speed limit can well go, and overturned in Victoria Park who was killed when a lorry skidded
blameless. Outside the congested
In the new Bill a clean-cut, rea- however,conditions are
was exdnerated.. naturally different and Bill deal Borable definition of dangerous ing with these problems will driving, free from the ambiguity said that elderly people, and some. probably engage the attention of of the present uns which was Parliament during the coming conceived in a spirit of panic." Bession.
area,
The principal changes in the law which it will provide for are under stood to beAbolition of the pres sent statutory speed limit, Compul- sorg”? Insuranówentóww.third-pariz., rinks, and physical fitness certiß-- catán for drivers se
The question of the abolition of
BEAN
LANE CRAWFORD LTD.
mobile @Dept."CJ1917.
The coroner, Dr. Edwin Smith,
times even young people, were ab
sent-minded, and stepped off the} kerb without noticing the traffic,
"If a pedestrian does that,” he added, "as a lorry is coming along, and takes the river by surprise, then the driver cannot be blamed for what happens. The driver, has a duty to the public that key UKI
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