first ever car crash
Discussion
Got this in an email -don't know if its true, but ironic and interesting..
"more than 1.2 million people die in traffic accidents worldwide each year. The first was Bridget Driscoll, knocked down by a car travelling at 12mph in London on 17 August 1896. The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death, and warned: "This must never happen again." "
"more than 1.2 million people die in traffic accidents worldwide each year. The first was Bridget Driscoll, knocked down by a car travelling at 12mph in London on 17 August 1896. The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death, and warned: "This must never happen again." "
stooz said:
Got this in an email -don't know if its true, but ironic and interesting..
"more than 1.2 million people die in traffic accidents worldwide each year. The first was Bridget Driscoll, knocked down by a car travelling at 12mph in London on 17 August 1896. The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death, and warned: "This must never happen again." "
No no, they missed out the ending "This must never happen again WITHOUT a system to take money for compenstaion in the way of fines. I propose a partnership. One of safety and that will involve a futuristic camera of some kind..."
Yep its true:
World's first road death
On August 17, 1896, Bridget Driscoll, became the first
road fatality in the world.She was a 44year old mother with two children who had come to London with her teenage daughter and a friend to watch a dancing display.
While the driver was reported to be doing 4 mph, witnesses described her at being hit by a car travelling at "tremendous speed".
The crash occurred on a terrace in the grounds of Crystal Palace in London. The car was owned by the Anglo-French Motor Car Company who were offering demonstration rides to the public. At the time of the crash, the car was being driven by Arthur Edsell, an employee of the company.He had had been driving for only 3 weeks (no driving tests or licenses existed at that time). He had apparently tampered with the belt, causing the car to go at twice the intended speed. He was also said to have been talking to the young lady passenger beside him.
After a six-hour inquest, the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death". At the inquest, the Coroner said "This must never happen again"
· No prosecution was proposed or brought against the driver or the company
World's first road death
On August 17, 1896, Bridget Driscoll, became the first
road fatality in the world.She was a 44year old mother with two children who had come to London with her teenage daughter and a friend to watch a dancing display.
While the driver was reported to be doing 4 mph, witnesses described her at being hit by a car travelling at "tremendous speed".
The crash occurred on a terrace in the grounds of Crystal Palace in London. The car was owned by the Anglo-French Motor Car Company who were offering demonstration rides to the public. At the time of the crash, the car was being driven by Arthur Edsell, an employee of the company.He had had been driving for only 3 weeks (no driving tests or licenses existed at that time). He had apparently tampered with the belt, causing the car to go at twice the intended speed. He was also said to have been talking to the young lady passenger beside him.
After a six-hour inquest, the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death". At the inquest, the Coroner said "This must never happen again"
· No prosecution was proposed or brought against the driver or the company
society up totally in the name of safety. Size Nine Elm said:
Nope...
In 1851, for example, there were over 1000 deaths on the roads of London alone.
Motor vehicles are a lot more predictable and controllable than horses.
That's facinating - and presumeably there were a similar number of horse related deaths every year?
Have you got a source for this info?
In idle moments I've often thought that, when matter transfer arrives, there will inevitably be a few people who 'get lost'. I'm sure there will be uproar, and everyone will forget how many people got killed in previous modes of transport.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff