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).
'Amiens Accident' and making recommendations on driving policy, vehicle handling on wet roads, and tyres.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 181\M10\ img055 | |
| Date | 11th April 1928 | |
| To HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Dx. DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} } FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} C. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} x4199 RL/LG11.4.28. 15-EX. THE AMIENS ACCIDENT. X8940L X20 It will probably be difficult to positively decide the cause of the extremely regrettable [crossed out: incident] incident, but it suggests to me the following points :- That amateurs should not be asked or allowed to drive cars that the company are responsible for or carry the company's employees - (I am not saying Comm. Briggs is an amateur, but the accident at first made me think an amateur was driving), any fast driving to be done for the company should be done by professional drivers of considerable experience, and then only at their own judgement, not against any fast scheduled time. That there is such an immense difference, especially at high speed, between a wet and dry road, that one has rarely heard of any skidding on dry roads, except at very [crossed out: fast] cornering or vigorous braking - whereas skids on wet roads are extremely common, almost continuous more or less with high power and speed, so that on wet roads speeds should generally be reduced at least one-third. This last 3 months during the wet periods, I have seen 4 cars in the ditches through slipping on the edge of the road while passing - and one with broken rear axle (not RR's.) Regarding tyres. You will remember that I wrote a few months ago to say these "must have good non-skidding contd :- | ||