THE COMMITTEE on Road Safety's report on the minimum age
for motor-cyclists seems to me a very sensible document. Nobody wants to restrict early acquaintance with the internal combustion engine more than is necessary, but to put the most powerful type of motor-cycle into the hands of a youth of sixteen is not only murder for him —which is his own lookout—but may also be murder for other people. The committee's sug- gestion that the age limit for motor-bicycles of
over 250 c.c. should be raised to seventeen is very moderate, and they balance it by suggesting that the age limit for 'mopeds' be reduced to fifteen. I gather that a very large proportion of beds in hospitals dealing with head injuries is taken up by motor-cyclists, though, in fact, the most serious consequences of their falls could have been averted if they had been wearing crash helmets. Is there not a caseofor making it compulsory or at the least withdrawing Health Service benefits in the case of thpse not wearing helmets? This may seem severe, but, after all, there are queues at the moment for these hos- pitals, and there is no reason why people suffer- ing from brain tumours should have to wait because of sheer selfishness on the part of motor-. cyclists.
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