Again, many more owners than ever before now dispense with
the services of a chauffeur, partly because of economy, but also because, owing to fabric-covered bodies and cellulose paint, untarnishable metal fittings, easy lubrication and easy starting, the modern car really does not require an attendant. Soon, everyone in England will own a car. Almost the only disadvantage to this vast increase in cheap methods of transport is the deplorable number of accidents, fatal and otherwise, which occupy so much space in our Monday morning papers. For these one cannot blame the cars, for present models are all equipped with reliable brakes, and do not skid readily. Bad driving, carelessness, and above all the road surfaces are chiefly responsible for our toll of deaths. Cars and the roads on which they run must go together, and I cannot let this opportunity pass of drawing attention to the fact that we spend vast sums on new roads all over the country, which have surfaces suitable for dry weather, when the prevailing weather in this country is wet. Without going into details, the road dressing which is so extensively used gives a polished veneer which, when wet, is very slippery, and is therefore a public danger. Furthermore, our road surfaces are imported and very costly. We have much un- employment in our quarries, yet stone is being brought for our roads from Belgium and Norway. Some of the roads recently made are so dangerous that notice-boards warning motorists have had to be erected on them. Until we have safe surfaces which tyres can grip when wet, accidents will continue and will increase as the number of cars increase. Even with greater efficiency in headlamps, it is exceedingly difficult to light up a black and shiny surface at night.
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