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).
Recent serious car accidents involving rival makes, particularly along the road to Nice.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 30\6\ Scan127 | |
| Date | 9th March 1923 | |
| Y/1559 COPY OF MEMORANDUM FROM H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} (H3/EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}9.3.23.) Re Rival Makes of Car. It will be of interest to R.{Sir Henry Royce} to learn that there are a number of serious accidents every week along the road from here to Nice. The driving is fast and risky. Whether powerful 4-wheel brakes are partly responsible for the fast driving of the bigger cars I don't know, but I suspect it. In the last week there have been two serious smashes of Hispano Suiza cars (Henning says three, but I've no news of third), and several of other makes. Both Hispano accidents resulted from braking at high speed and both cars became unmanageable. The first one went clean off the road but hurt no one, the second on the main road, below this Hotel, struck a thick tree. The male passenger broke both thighs and the lady's face was destroyed. Our hotel bus took them to hospital. Further, I hear that last Saturday evening on the fast extension of the Promenade des Anglais by the Aerodrome at Nice, a racing driver called Raymond, turned his car completely over with the brakes. Make unknown to me. I saw the crowd as I passed but did not realise the accident in the darkness. I would like to add that the number of cars on the road this year is far in excess of last year. More than double the number, I should say at a guess. (Signed) H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} [STAMP: RECEIVED MAR 9 1923] H - Arthur Handury | ||