MOTORING
A Policeman's Lot A view of road problems as seen by the official at Scotland Yard primarily concerned with them could not fail to be novel, and could not fail to be important. Road Traffic and Its Control,* apart from its many excellences, enjoys the distinction of being the only book of its kind, and of having been written at exactly the right moment. Of entirely different scope and intention from the London part of the Bressey Report it might be described as the perfect companion to it. The Bressey Report pictures a rebuilt London, reorganised to meet the traffic problems which daily press harder upon the streets and roads ; Mr. Alker Tripp's book describes in minute and absorbing detail the nature of the problems themselves. Written from a wholly objective point of view, it provides a really invaluable text-book to the student of our increasing difficulties, to the public no less than to the policeman.
Forty Years a Cyclist In his preface the Assistant Commissioner of Police remarks that, in contradistinction to the laymen who speak dogmatically on these intricate questions as if they possessed a " complete and authoritative fund of knowledge," those whose job it is to study the problems and find some way out of them know best how little they know. That he himself is specially competent to review the immensely complicated subject can be accepted from the fact that, unlike other officials who are appointed to draft measures of relief, Mr. Alker Tripp has driven cars and ridden motor-cycles for thirty years, ridden a push-bike for more than forty and maintained a high yearly average mileage as a pedestrian—not, as he points out, over golf-courses, but in streets at home and abroad, as well as in country lanes. That is to say that his experience is at least as wide as that of anyone living.
For a " Mild " Policy In the course of the 21 chapters and 8 parts into which the book is divided the author sets out in detail every known problem that confronts the road-user and the police who have to solve them and wherever it serves his purpose best (which is, he says, exposition and not advocacy) puts forward the advan- tages and disadvantages of any suggested policy. This he does in a particularly illuminating way when discussing the pros and cons of " strict " versus " mild" policy in dealing with the less serious offences. In favour of the mild methods he suggests that the police must not estrange the motoring public, " most of whom are really anxious to do the right thing " ; that there are generally extenuating circumstances and that people are only human. Also that " guidance and advice " should be effective and that the issue of cautions in- stead of summonses saves the time of the police.
On the other side, in favour of a strict policy, he says that the police must protect the motoring public in spite of itself; that the non-motoring public must have their proper protec- tion against motorists who are killing and injuring them in thousands ; that if cautions are so multiplied as to cease to be heeded offences will increase and the time of the police be still further wasted ; and that human nature being what it is, the fear of a summons is the thing that really makes people atten- tive to the law's numerous requirements.
The American Ticket In this connexion the author describes the " ticket " system general in the United States and Canada, whereby an offender is given a summons on the spot by the policeman who stops him. His attendance in court is required the next day when, in undefended cases, he is fined according to a tariff. If he wishes to dispute the issue a date for the hearing is fixed. His responsibility lies in the risk of having to pay the costs of the hearing in the event of conviction. If he succeeds in his pleading, the city pays the costs. The system seems by far the best of all and Mr. Alker Tripp points out that the * Road Traffic and Its Control. By H. Alker Tripp. (Arnold. 26s.) saving of police time, in a large force, is so great as "to be equivalent to quite a substantial augmentation for the force for police work on the streets. The problem of the waiting vehicle is very carefully con- sidered and it may be news to most people that the legal position is so obscure that an eminent lawyer has opined that, in fact, no exact answer can be given to any question of the rights and wrongs of standing upon as well as travelling upon the highway. Mr. Alker Tripp shows that. in the matter of parking, things are working in a vicious circle. Parking accommodation is not being more rapidly developed privately because the police are not taking sufficiently resolute action-in forcing the issue ; on the other hand such action is impossible until the accommodation is provided. What may not be generally known is the fact that all local authorities have the power to provide it, and there is no reason why it should be left to private enterprise.
A Realist's Dream?
Dealing with the familiar suggestion that all private cars should be forbidden the central areas during the busy hours, the author holds that such a view is defeatist, the increased quantity of private car traffic being the measure of its utility. " It would be contrary to all ideas of human progress to allege that we have produced an instrument so useful that we cannot use it." That is certainly true but, until Sir Charles Bressey's dream comes true, will there ever be room in or reasonably near those busy centres to lay out parking places big enough, cheap enough, and numerous enough ?
On cyclists he remarks that they are a danger to themselves rather than to the public at large, and that the problem is to protect them from their own follies. He is of opinion that the high casualty rate among young cyclists is due to their sense of comparative immunity from effective control and that the " casual and irresponsible youth who behaves as if he were a law unto himself is extremely numerous." Indeed he is, but as he need carry no identification plate, action against him can seldom be taken unless a collision results. " When called upon to stop, the cyclist may ignore the summons entirely; if he is forcibly intercepted, personal injury may be caused." Exactly. Mr. Alker Tripp pays due tribute to the careful cyclist, particularly the members of clubs, some of which provide the rear rider with a whistle to warn the leaders to close in to the near side when a car is about to overtake the string. I must be unlucky, for I cannot remember seeing this done.
Noises—Legal and Illegal Did you know that this is the only civilised country -in which you can make as much beastly noise as you like, except with a motor vehicle ?- In pointing out that the only restrictions here apply to the sort of noises a badly-loaded lorry makes, clattering or inefficient machinery, hooting and loud exhausts, Mr. Alker Tripp shows that the enforcement of any regulation dealing with any noise at all is extremely difficult. You can charge the driver of a nerve-shattering sports car or motor-cycle with making a public pest of himself (unfortunately in less accurate terms), but unless you can exhibit a defect in his silencer proof is rarely possible.
Every possible aspect of the immense problem is thus fairly considered, every point made admirably plain Although the whole tone of the book is one of impartial detachment, a magnificent piece of reporting, it is abundantly clear that the writer has his subject very much at heart. In his final section he gives his view that of the three choices, Education, Restriction and Construction, the first will never succeed on a voluntary basis ; the second is entirely dependent on the human factor and so definitely imperfect (" to restrict movement by law is likely to be both irksome and inefficient "). The third provides the best hopes of a solution—a conclusion with which most people
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