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 driver qualifications and driving in wet conditions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 158\1\ scan0056 | |
| Date | 11th April 1928 | |
| COPY. X20 To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} } BJ. } FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} } E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} } c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} LG R1/11.4.28. 15-EX. X89401 X4499 THE AMIENS ACCIDENT. It will probably be difficult to positively decide the cause of the extremely regrettable incidence, 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 Comn. 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, especi- ally at high speed, between a wet and a dry road, that one has rarely heard of any skidding on dry roads, except at very 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 - contd :- | ||