From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Risks and recent accidents during car testing in France, questioning a driver's conduct and considering relocating tests to England.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\3\ 03-page261 | |
| Date | 2nd June 1933 | |
| X58840 G.W.Hancock, Hotel de France, Chateauroux, Indre, FRANCE. From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} It is practically certain that the Insurance companies will refuse to accept the risk of our cars running in France. In our opinion this would be a reasonable attitude to take up, because of the number of accidents we have had in France recently. I am not at all satisfied that the last accident could not have been avoided if the car had been driven with reasonable care. I should be glad to have your opinion of this accident, and also I should like a further report from Clark why he did not observe the rule of the French road in which you are supposed to give way to the man coming from the right. I have got to give an explanation of the reason for the increase in accidents, whether it is that the cars are being driven faster, and also what can be done to reduce the risk. It may of course pay us to pack up in France and in future run our tests in England. If there is any question that Clark was not driving with reasonable care we definitely want to replace him. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||