Equalize Road-user Responsibility
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The Most Important Factor in Reducing Accidents Would be More Suitable Roads, But All Who Use the Highways Should Bear an Equal Statutory Obligation
By "Tantalus "
ROADS -a word which' should be drummed into the ears
of
every Member of Parliament in order to emphasize
the importance and urgency of the subject and to stimulate action, but not of the delayed character. The construction of an adequate road system should be accorded first priority. If the needs of the trading community be not considered of sufficient importance to warrant such a course, surely the accident figures should provide adequate reasons for so doing. There can be no question but that the Government is seriously "alarmed regarding this matter. So closely are accidents related to the present road system that one cannot be divorced from the other; they are inseparable. Even if the proposals as outlined in the interim report of the Committee of Road Safety be accepted and made obligatory, the most optimistic of men could not regard them in the light of an answer to the problem unless a road system be provided which will meet all modern requirements. The figures of .41,000 persons killed on the roads and 117,000 injured since September, 1939, are so staggering' as to be almost beyond comprehension. To lay down rules to the effect that a pedestrian must not do this'and a cyclist. must not do that is not sufficient. Neither would the prewar policy of tinkering here and taking off a corner there' provide a cure. There must be planning on a drastic scale, combined with a realistic outlook as to the future. Lord Leathers, Minister of War Transport, stated recently that the first necessity after the war will be for a stiff refresher course in the rules of the road. To some extent this may be true, but, .however well-versed a driver might be in this respect, the desired result will not be realized if he has to drive under pre-wax road conditions. All known causes of Toad accidents—as well as potential dangers..—must be removed as a first measure of necessity. It is quite useless to lay down a new set of rules and conditions for all classes of road users unless this be accompanied by a determined policy, -together with vigorous action. Any such policy, in the main, is dependent upon new road-constructiou programme conceived on the broadest lines.
Interest for a IVIotorways Bill
Some interest is aroused by the fact that, in the near future, the Government will introduce a Bill for the building of motorways. The proposals in respect of this Bill are eagerly aWaited, frit only then can the intentions be known. It must be admitted that the Government has a ticklish problem to face, because of the conflicting interests and divid61 opinion. There are, in fact, signs of an impending" war " which threatens the modernization of the trunk highways. For some time past the contestants have been mustering their strength, preparing printed matter and seeking to obtain support from Members of Parliament for their respective claims. The Government is well provided with reports and suggestions from various committees and can be in no doubt as to the strength of the claims of the interested parties; so there can be no ambiguity regarding the considered opinion •of qualified experts. The dispute is growing and opposing views are likely to be heard even more loudly as the Government plans are unfolded. The case for the construction of real motorways is led—. and has been for a -number of years—by the British Road Federation and the campaign is admirably conducted by the chairman, Mr, George N. Wilson. The demands include the building of six new trunk roads, four of which are to radiate from London—two northwards and one each south and westwards. This is, broadly, the same plan as that advocated by the County Surveyors' Society and the Institute 'of Municipal and County Engineers. There are subsidiary schemes for north to south highways in Wales and Scotland. The Roads Improvement Association is asking for the building of 2,000 miles of new roads and by-passes, the widening of secondary roads and the construction of fly-over junctions and dual carriageways. The Standing Joint Committee of the R.A.C., A.A. and the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, has pressed recently for roads of the German type; for new tunnels under the Thames in London and Woolwich and for bridges across the Severn, Forth and Humber. It is significant that the aforementioned bodies, representing wide interests, are in complete agreement and have the same decided views as to what should be clone, All insist upon the need for a bold and comprehensive road-building programme.
Why do Cyclists Oppose Motorways?
The most formidable opponents to any such scheme are the cyclists, who argue that to build roads for the exclusive use of motor traffic will create a privileged class. They 'question why they should, as ratepayers, be kept off the roads to suit the convenience of motorists. "'Why should 10,000,000 cyclists be penalized because they cannot afford to run a car, or prefer.cycling to motoring ?" they ask. The answer is that an analysis of road-accident figures reveals that cyclists are the greatest single cause of accidents; and they do hot directly pay a penny towards the cost of the roads. While on the subject of cyclists, it may be remarked that the Government is being urged very strongly, to introduce measures rendering compulsory the fixing of a number plate to all cycles. Only by such means can identification be made possible for accident investigation purposes. , Road users can recall numerous ac,cidents in which cyclists have been the primary cause, but they have slipped away unnoticed and unidentified. Any such measure is, in fact, to the advantage of the cyclists themselves. It might be well also if registration could be applied to all horse-drawn vehicles, so that then there would be equality in this respect. Experience proves that in the great majority of cases, particularly where court procedure is involved, the dice are heavily loaded' againstthe driver of a motor vehicle. Surely, the most direct way of reducing accident figures is to ensure that all road users—motorists, cyclists, horsed-vehicle drivers and pedestrians alike—bear an equal statutory obligation. Such a measure would assist in creating a conscious responsibility amongst road users'—a responsibility which is all too easily evaded by certain sections of the community, The drivers of motor vehicles have carried too long the lion's share of the weight of statutory obligations. It is hoped, therefore, that in framing the new Bill the Government will consider the road-construction programme and road accidents as. one and the same subject, Until there be provided an adequate, up-to-date -road system calculated to meet all envisaged requirements, together with equalify of statutor'y' responsibility for all users of the roads, accident figures must continue at a high level.