Modern Roads Call for Limits in U.S.
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IT was significant that, on building
modern, high-speed roads, the United States invariably had to impose speed limits. On urban motorways in America quite low speed limits were imposed. This was stated by Mr. G. Grime, of the Road Research Laboratory, during a discussion at a road safety forum at the National Safety Congress, at Central Hall, Westminster, last week.
This comment arose during the discussion of a resolution proposed by Mr. H. H. Grice (North-eastern Accident Prevention Federation) that: " In view of the ever-increasing potential speeds of motor vehicles, and the fact that the human element is in question in a large number of accidents, how would the forum deal with this element in relation to speeds? " No vote was taken on the resolution.
A resolution submitted by the Eastern Accident Prevention Federation arose from accidents that continued to occur on pedestrian crossings. It urged the Minister of Transport to consider whether the crossings were fulfilling the purpose for which they were originally designed, and if not whether they were worth continuing in their present form. This resolution was carried.
Mr. Grime agreed that there was a number of improvements, and lighting was an important one, that could be made to crossings Of accidents, he said that every investigation they had made had shown either a good result or one of which they were not certain. There had never been a bad result.
Another resolution that was carried proposed the training of drivers in " defensive driving" as a part of road safety policy.
BODYBUILDING WORKERS APPLY FOR SHORTER WEEK
A REDUCTION in the working week r1,of from 44 to 40 hours, "with appropriate adjustments to rates of pay," and an increase in the annual holiday with pay of from two to three weeks, are sought in an application which has been made on behalf of bodybuilding workers by the National Union of Vehicle Builders, the Amalgamated Society of Woodcutting Machinists and the Electrical Trades Union to the employers' United Kingdom Joint Wages Board.
The trade unions also ask that the number of days off allowed with pay in respect of public holidays at Easter. Whitsuntide and so on, shall be increased from six to eight days per year, and that the minimum holiday pay for these shall be £2 per day or the day-time rate, whichever is the greater.
Another proposal in the application is to increase the London differential, which at present provides that all grades of employees in the London area are paid an extra ;Id. per hour.