Many thanks to those who assisted me in tracking down this letter which
describes an early form of traffic calming.
John Adams in "Risk" (1995, London, UCL Press, ISBN 1-85728-068-7), p. 113,
quotes a letter from Colonel Willoughby Verner to "The Times" published on
13 July 1908:
"Dear Sir
Before any of your readers may be induced to cut their hedges as suggested
by the secretary of the Motor Union they may like to know my experience of
having done so.
Four years ago I cut down the hedges and shrubs to a height of 4 ft for 30
yards back from the dangerous crossing in this hamlet. The results were
twofold: the following summer my garden was smothered with dust as
fast-driven cars, and the average pace of the passing cars was considerably
increased. This was bad enough, but when the culprits secured by the police
pleaded that 'it was perfectly safe to go fast' because 'they could see
well at the corner', I realised that I had made a mistake. Since then I
have let my hedges and shrubs grow, and by planting roses and hops have
raised a screen 8 ft to 10 ft high, by which means the garden is sheltered
to some degree from the dust and the speed of many passing cars sensibly
diminished. For it is perfectly plain that there are many motorists who can
only be induced to go at a reasonable speed at crossroads by consideration
for their own personal safety.
Hence the advantage to the public of automatically fostering this spirit as
I am now doing. To cut hedges is a direct encouragement to reckless driving.
Your obedient servant,
Willoughby Verner"
Kind regards
Pascal Desmond.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|