JUGGERNAUTS AND OTHER BOGIES.
Page 28
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By the Inspector.
IT HAS ALWAYS been rather a puzzle to me why those responsible for the conduct of the Northcliffs group of papers (who, by the way, are by no means backward in pushing their claims for publicity consideration upon the motor trade as a whole) allow the public to be impressed withlhe idea that it is their settled policy to seize upon any opportunity for embarrassing, dr criticizing, the sameindustry with an eageiness and appetite that is no evidence of journalistic fair play. There have been many evidences of this in the past, and the motor industry is, by no means, unaware of it. It may only he playing to. the gallery a-nd, perhaps, good journalism in the Daily Mail sense,, but at least it is a queer point of view that it is excellent policy to pose as the super-critic of most things motoring and, at the same time, to endeavour to persuade those who have publicity appropriations to allocate that there is nothing to touch the advertisement columns of the various Northcliffe journals -for communicating with
the motoring public.
The industry, although in no sense entitled to dictate editorial policy in any journal, has, surely, the right to -expect encouragement and some measure of support for the movement, rather than the encouragement of criticism and op-position. It was the editor of the Overseag Daily Mail who recently wrote encouragiagIy of the Leyland lorry, " although
it was built in Lancashire."
During the la-st few weeks we have been treated to a marked revival of these tactics. The Daily Mail has seized sorae excellent opportunities to " work ee the agony." Its columns have beenconstantly occupied with criticisms of "the road juggernaut," "the huge, clumsy char-à-bancs," " these horrible monsters," and so on. And, again, the opportunity to raise excitement-, at this late hour. about left-hand driving has not been missed. It is very seldom that one finds the Mail, or any of its associated journals, lending its powerful aid to any constructive movement in Motoring circles. Such an attitude does little credit to so powerful a, group of papers, a-nd it does a lot of harm to the industry. Constructive and helpful criticism need not write of juggernauts
at this date.
Both "left-hand steering" and " the juggernauts of the roads" are subjects that, rightly, invite consideration, but there is no immediate cause for either of them to give rise to excited agitation, or any attempt to prejudice the public against American construction or the people's; motorcar. So far as " left-hand steering" is concerned, there is little doubt, in the writer's mind, that it is, quite undesirable in this country, so long as the rule of the road is " Keep to the left." It is no argument to point to the opposite case of thousands -of machines with right-hand control operating in France, where the rule is " keep to the right." . Traffic of that kind was under rigid military control, and it is a fact that, since many of these machines have passed to civilian al8
service in France, similar opposition to their use is voiced, to some extent, in that country. ' Moreover, not a few bad accidents in France, to the writer's knowledge were directly traceable to this non-standard control. Much of the dangerous driving in Paris and other French cities is, undoubtedly, due to the fact that taxicabs and other vehicles have their drivers' seats on one or the other hand indiscriminately.
The greatest evil, however, is for there to be two co-existent and recognized positions. If all drivers in this country sat on the near side of their vehicles, the risk of accident. woula be trivial, but where there is no regulation on the subject, confusion and danger are likely to exist. By all means, must the near side position be made illegal and forbidden as soon as conveniently may be, but, in effecting such a change, let us take care that users and owners are not penalized, financially or otherwise. So far as imported machines are concerned, no more should be allowed to be sold. If vehicles are brought into this country for use here, they should, of course, conform to what is, at any rate, our unwritten law on the subject.
Then, turning, for. a moment, to the question of the newly arisen " char-k-bancs " question, there is no immediate cause for anxiety or excitement. The vehicles in question, which are now to be Seen in such increasing quantities on the roads, conform to the present law of the land, it must be remembered, and to such local regulations as affect them.. There is need for consideration as to how far their passage should be permitted on second and third class roads, but it is op-en -to question whether local authorities are not, already, competent to take this question into their own hands and proceed' against owners on the score of obstruction if it should occur. If interference with danger to other traffic can be proved, the remedy is, surely, enforceable.
Those who axe responsible for the operation of chars-A:banes should remember that, although fortune has especially 'favoured their undertakings recently, they must proceed with developments upon lines -that will retain for them flea esteem of the
public. Careful and considerate driving, and, particularly, consideration for other road users, rigid instructions to drivers and meticulous care in the choice of the men who are. entrusted with the care of these22,000 machines, fax from -supervision and with even greater responsibilities on their shoulders so far as human lives are concerned—a choice of routes which shall not outrage local sentiment and amenities—these are all points to which the user must give his vary early and very earnest attention. Only in that way will it be possible to avoid agrowing wave of opposition to their activities, not a little fostered by a section of the Press which is always ready to seize upon any fancied -public grievance the exploitation of which will satisfactorily be reflected in increased circulation.