1930-02-20 — Page 13

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1930.

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THE CHINA MAIL.

RULES OF THE ROAD

MOTORISTS CHARTER

"Owner Driver" writes in the Re-f the public. Savoré penalties are view of Reviews:-

proposed for any falso declaration. The "Road Traffic Bill" is out at Among the disabilities indicated [last, and a very good Bill it seems are bad sight and liability to ats. to be. In the course of its passage An applicant who is refused a through Parliament it may be im Ilcance may, however, demand to ba proved or damaged; but, as #tput through a practical test in stands, its valuable provisions so driving, and has a right of appeal far outweigh those which may ap to a court of Summary Jurisdiction. pear doubtful that motorists in On obtaining licences, all drivers general will give it a hearty wel will be required to insure them

selves against third party risks and to carry with them a "certificate of insuranca" in the same way as they now carry their licences.

come.

The best thing about it is its obvious tendency to lay down a' law which can be obeyed. The old law, passed twenty-five years ago, be

Some of the most remarkable fore the development of the motor-provisions of the Bill relate to the car and of motor traffic could be maximum speeds of heavy vehicles, clearly foreseen, was obsolete from such as locomotives, motor coaches, the beginning. About that time 1 and tractors, lorries and other Motor cars con- remember aceing a play in which goods vehicles. one of the principal characters was structed to carry not more than Cabinet Minister. He confessed eight persons in addition to the that he had driven from town to driver are exempt from any speed the country house in which the limit; but the schedule of speeds' Lacene was laid, at a speed that for other types of vehicle is as fol

dafied the 20-mile limit. When he lows: was rebuked for breaking the law

Maximum speed which he and his colleagues had

Miles caused Parliament to enact be answered: "Who bothers about the law with a good car on a clear

road?" or words to that effect.

This has been the case, only mare 20, ever since. Now, the stupid 20-mile limit is to be swept away. In its place come new chocks jupon road-hogging in the form of heavy penalties for dangerous driv. ing. For this offence the penalty is to be a maximum of three months Imprisonment or a fine of £30 on a frat conviction. For subsequent convictions the fine may be raised to £100 if the conviction be sum mary. If it be obtained on indict ment the penalties are raised to six months' imprisonment and a fine. All convictions for this offence are to be indorsed on the motorist's licenco; and unless there are Įspecial reasons to the contrary, the licenco is to be withdrawn on a second offence.

Therefore it is possible, and in Idead probable, that many a road hog will be lodged in a special sty If the Bill becomes law. Nobody, least of all a decent motorist, will pity him or her.

Another offence, that of careless ¦driving" is defined as driving "without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road," but a conviction for this offence will not entail the withdrawal of a licence, nor do the penalties for it seem to be clearly specified. The object of defining this new offence is apparently to provide an alter native to the "dangerous driving" charge. Without it, a motorist might be liable to prosecution and to heavy penalties for a minor or even a technical offense. In order that motorists may know what technical offences are, the Minister of Transport will lasue a "highway code" costing a penny а сорт. While failure to observe the code would not in itself be an offence, the fact that it had not been obs served might be used as evidenco were an actual offence committed. The net effect of the "dangerous" and "careless" driving clauses, and of the existence of an official code, jahould be to render motorists at once more cautious in their own interest and more considerata of others.

Class of Vehicle An Hour.

Heavy Locomotives (a) Within any city, town

or village

(b) Elsewhere

Light Locomotives. (a) When not drawing

trafler or more than two trailers, if all the wheels of both the loco- mative and any trailer drawn thereby are fitted with soft or elastic.

tyres

5

8

New York taxi drivers obeying Com missioner ĮGrover Whalen's sartorial edict will be dressed in the above cos- tume.

The fetching ensemble consista of a rubberised duster of black and pearl gray, cut, to the figure from the shoulder to waist line and slightly bouffant in the skirt. A modish visored rakish angle will also be the "dernier "pop-over"> сар жогд at a slightly cri" for the cab pliots.

The Bill makes no provision for a definite test for drivers. It ac- cepts the view of the Royal Cora mission on Transport to the effect that, having regard to qualifien- tions that are only to be acquired by knowledge and experience, po preliminary tests can be effective. [On this point I think the Bill might be extended and improved. If persons now holding licences (1) may be supposed to have gained the The P. G. 8. Film Transport Co., requisite knowledge Ltd, of Brixton, operates a large perience, and be left to face the fleet of motor trucks for this work terrors of the law without further

4A, Dea. Voour Road C.

their credit.

and

FILM TRANSPORT Motion Picture Industry Many of these have very remark-qualification, something might be able records and achievements to done to ensure that new applicants Uses Many Trucks

As a typical Instance for licences shall be fit to take the Everyone realises the vastness of of the amount of work done in this road. As I have before suggested, the motion ploture Industry, but service, there is a G.M.C.. truck it would be a good thing if all such it is doubtful whether cinema which has already covered 90,000pplicants were required to pro- patrons conceive the difficulties miles. It makes collections and duce a certificate of atnesa and of encountered in rushing films to all deliveries in London during the rond experience from a registered teacher, all professional teachers parts of England, Scotland and day-time and does the

return

being obliged to register themselves Wales, to enable frequent changes journey to Birmingham six nights to this end. If the professional a week, making a minimum mileage teachers themselves were compell- of programmes to be made.

Films are collected from various of 1,800 per week. picture company offices and theatres The rest of the floot is almosted to pass severe tests as a condi-

and sorted at the main distributing depots in London, Birmingham, Loode, Manchester, Cardiff, Glas- gow and so on, and it is between these centres that reliable and

tion of registration, a considerable entirely composed of other G.M.C.cafeguard would thus be provided. and Chevrolet trucks. Most of them show a mileage of six figures and the drivers are very proud of

Certain changes which the Bill them despite the fact that they are recommends should tend to

speedy transport le essential notoll paintings," due to the lack diminish accidents on the road. Vehicles used for this work ras of the necessary time to effect re- Though the age for motor-car to a very close time schedule, as ovation Incidentally, the drivers drivers is not raised above the pre- Interest in the trucks sant minimum of 17 years, it is their goods must be delivered have show

ralded to 21 in the case of heavy promptly

paid by christ

vine motor-cars, tractors or locomotives. made pro

All Song Vance Journ

In the case of motor cycles the age |fa: Increased from 14-to-16; and it is made unlawful for more than one person to be carried on

lion,

(b) In any other case,

Heavy Motor-care-and- Motor Tractora Passenger Vehicles—

(a) If all the wheels are.

fitted with pneumatic tyres and not drawing a trailer.

(b) In any other case

(2) Goods Vehicles and Tractors

- (1.) Without trailer---

(a) If all the wheels are fitted with pneumatic tyres

(5) If all the wheels are not fitted with pneuma→ fic tyres but are fitted with soft or elastio

tyres of or

· (11) With trailer---

(a) If all the wheels, both of the drawing vehicle' and of the trailer, are fitted with pneumatic tyres

(b) If all the wheels, both of the drawing vehicle and, of the trailer, are *not fitted with pneuma- tie tyres but are fitted with soft or » elastic

5

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(b) If all the wheels are fitted with pneumatic tyres, and the vehicle is not drawing a trailer, and is constructed to carry more than eight persons in addition to

the driver (c) In any other case ....... 20

80

Goods Vehicles-

Limit

(1.) Without trailer-

(a) If all the wheels are

fitted with pneumatic tyres

30

(b) If all the wheels are

not fitted with pneumatic tyres but are fitted with soft or elastic tyres (IL) With trailer-

20

(a) If all the wheels, both of the drawing vehicle and of the trailer, are fitted with pneumátic tyres (b) If all the wheels, both of the drawing vehicle and of the trailer, are not fitted with preuma- tic tyres, but are fitted with soft or elastic tyres

16

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13

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cambered and fairly straight, the the roads should be made to feel case for limiting the speed of heavy that they too have a duty to others vehicles may lose its present force; an well as to themselves.

but, in conditions as they are

to-day, the proper place for people

During the wet month of Novem« who wish to travel on narrow wind | ber the folly of pedestrians was ex- ing roads in large coaches at the hibited in an astonishing degree. speed, of express trains, is in ex- However carefully a motorist may press trains,

drive on wet and slippery surfaces,

(ill.) In any other case ....... Invalid Carriages

16 The longest part of the new Bill it is not always possible to pull Those (peeds follow the recom- consists of thirty-eight clauses up within a yard or suddenly to mendations of the Royal Commis-[dealing with the regulation of steer clear of reckless pedestrians, ston on Transport, except that the public service vehicles. The Bill In some cases which I have per speed limit for motor coaches with proposes that the country shall be sonally observed, lives have been pneumatic tyres has been reduced divided into 12 traffic areas, each saved only by the highest skill on from the 85 miles an hour proposed of which is to be subject to three the part of drivers whose cars were by the Commission to 80 miles an Commissioners who are to be running well below the 20-mile Hour. This reduction is likely to responsible not only for licensing | limit in London streets or on subar.. Head to some outery among the but for the conduct of adéquate ban roads, ́and in some of those owners of motor coaches, many of and efficient services. On the other cases not even sidli could · avoid which how run at speeds exceeding hand, the Commissioners will dangerous skidding. Motor 40 miles an hour even on narrow eliminate

services, On the subject of skidding, roads. With their case I have very though they will provide unco- especially in its most paralysing little sympathy. Large numbers of munerative services, where neces- form, front-wheel skidding, I have these coaches have been built with- sary and co-ordinate all forms to offer A suggestion which out regard to the width of the roads of passenger transport in their motorists may and valuable. At along which they pass or to the in-respective areas The Minister of the beginning of the autumn I put convenience and even danger they Transport will be empowered to strong new tyres on the front cause to other road users. Again make regulations for the proper wheels of my car, though, like the and again during the past twelve construction of publié Bervice back wheel tyres; they were stiil months I have been obliged to drive vehicles, and to govern the conduct in pretty good condition. Never- at a speed above forty-seven miles of drivers and passengers.

theless I had three front-wheel

20 16

20

16

(IIL.), In any other case ... 8 Motor-cars and Motor-cycles Passenger Vehicles -

(a) It all the wheels are

fitted with

while any pillon rider

astride on

fred. Moreover, appl Hoences will be required to declare whether

tyres, not

which would

unnecessary

skids at various places in London

an hour in order to overtake them on roads in the South of England; In both Houses of Parliament the when "cornering,” although I was and, as these coaches have a habit Bill will be closely scrutinised and driving at less than ten miles an of bunching themselves together, it may have to withstand attacks from hour on third speed with the clutch has sometimes been necessary to quarters which are not reconciled in. Thanks to these precautions, drive along behind them or between to the disappearance of the speed anything like an accident waS them for miles on end, Inhaling limit for "light" cara and motor avoided. But the experience was their exhaust fumes, before an op-cycles. It would be well if the unpleasant. Careful experiment, portunity occurred to pass them. Minister of Transport in the House with expert professional assistance, To overtake a motor, coach or a of Commons, and whoever may be revealed the fact that one of the lorry that is running at, say, forty in charge of the Bill in the House front wheel tyres was slightly less miles an hour and is blocking by of Lords should ask partisans of inflated than the other," and the Its balk a clear view of the road the speed limit to state whether in cornering, the anti-skid surface shend, is apt to be a dangerous they are competent to drive a of that tyre became depressed, so operation which a sensible motorist motor-car themselves, and, if not, that the smooth portion at it touch. will not risk unless he or she is what their qualifications may be led the road. Full inflation of both unable to do otherwise. But if for offering an opinion on the subs | tyres at once corrected this defect, motor coaches keep to thléty miles feet.”1 should also like to see some Aɛ sɛ extra precaution I have now an hour and are driven with penalty included in the Bill for the put fully Inflated new tyres on the reasonable consid than for other offence of "walking to the danger | back wheels also, 10 that no failure Meers of the Tom

of of road-users and of the pubili," | of the back wheels to grip the rond If motorists are to be compelled to surface to the fullest extent saRY, be careful, It is only right that, in fature, throw any extra strain pedestrians who walk upon or cross on the "front, wheels:

duond1⁄2 At some

No limit:all 4sada may