The strange story of a motor-car apparently manned by a
crew of land pirates set forth in a letter in the Times of Tuesday raises a question which is bound sooner or later to become a matter of importance,—i.e., whether it is wise to allow motor-cars of high speed to be driven on the roads except by persons who have obtained a license granted on proof of proficiency in driving. In our view, the useless and annoying pace-limitation ought to give way to stricter but more reasonable, and therefore more easily enforced, legislation against dangerous driving. What is wanted, Mr. Chaplin said in a recent debate, is identification for cars and drivers, and punishment for reckless turning of corners or passing of cross-roads, and the traversing of villages at high speed. The latter habit is most strongly to be condemned. Though it may be quite safe to go double the legal limit in the open, it is often criminally reckless to be well within it while passing through a village. We want most, however, what the Spectator has always advocated, the requirement of licenses for drivers of motor-cars. We have no objection to the identification proposals, but we wish Mr. Long had not committed himself so strongly, and, as we think, hastily, against the licensing proposal. At the present moment licenses may not be urgently needed, and it may be that the story in the Times alluded to above was exaggerated, but when, as will some day happen, powerful cars will be able to be hired for 21 a day, they will, unless licenses are required, get into the hands of utterly incapable people. Fancy 'Airy and 'Arriet on a Bank holiday out on a 20 h.p. Panhard.
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