THE PERILS OF THE ROAD [To the Editor of the
SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Your article, though I would agree with most of it, surely misses the two chief points. First, the cause of most accidents is excessive and illegal speed. It is true that "Road instinct is the chief guide to safety." But I think it untrue, and most dangerous to suggest, that experienced motorists can safely maintain an average speed which would be grossly dangerous" in other persons. Skilful drivers, going too fast, cause, I think, quite half the accidents.
And I must protest against the tone of the article, which evidently condones, nay encourages, illegal speeds.
Secondly, the article ignores the crying evil of the contempt of the law which the Government, like its equally cowardly predecessors, continnc-s to encourage. For, since it has neither repealed nor enforced the speed limit, a whole genera- tion of young people has grown up accustomed to despise the law, with moral effect as bad as that of Prohibition in America. Let the speed limit be enforced, by mechanical means if necessary, or abolished. If it were abolished, and the penalties for dangerous driving increased, it would, I think, be necessary to ensure that evidence of the police as to dangerous driving should be corroborated.—! am, Sir, &c.,
A. A. & C. T. C.
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