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).
Accident with car 31-EX in France, discussing driver experience and procedures.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 113\1\ scan0200 | |
| Date | 21th November 1935 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}11/KW.21.11.35. Accident to 31-EX. We attach herewith a report on the accident in France. It is difficult to pre-judge this unfortunate accident before one has had an opportunity of discussing it with the driver and the passenger. My first impression is that there was no need for it to have occurred and that it would not have happened if one of the experienced men had been driving. It may be coincidence, but the last two serious smashes in France, that is, 19-EX in February 1933, occurred with drivers who had not much experience in France. We have a big problem in providing drivers for the tests in France. When there are two cars out there, as there were recently, we have to provide eight drivers, Hancock and a clerk. The job is shut down and we have to fit all these people in at Derby. We have a standard instruction which is given to all drivers who go to Chateauroux, pointing out that the testing in France does not demand that they should rush round the country and drive dangerously. We have also had discussions with Hancock on this matter, and it was arranged that there should always be an experienced man on a car who was responsible. This works to prevent anybody doing anything silly, but in the case of emergency, it does not apply. In this case, the driver, who is one we borrowed from the Test Department, we have no doubt is a qualified driver, but he has not had any experience in France. We will let you have more information when we hear further from Hancock. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Att: GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}1/JAB.19.11.35. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}4/KW.21.11.35. | ||