PERILS OF THE STREET.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 212, 7 September 1922, Page 3

PERILS OF THE STREET.

THE TOLL OF THE MOTOR. AMERICA AND THE PROBLEM. (By W.D.) "It would l:c .-afe to say tiiat one person is killed every d«y in motor accidents in New Zealand," wm a statement made in the Hotue hy the member for Ohinemuri (Mr. H. Poland), when suggesting that some better method of controlling motor traffic in main streets throughout tiie Dominion was necessary. This statement, read in conjunction with some remarks iti the leading columns of a recent issue of the "Star nn the subject of "-Motorists anil the Law,'' must appeal to all who are in tlie least concerned about the safeguarding of our public streets from the dangers which beset both pedestrian and motorist alike. The Minister of Justice agree-! that some penalty beyond mere lines is necessary in order to deal effectively with tbe person guilty of repeated offences of oarelcas or too rapid motoring, and hints at the suspension of licences as a possible alternative. But, as tin; "Star remarks, '-suspension or cancellation is not the only alternative to mere fines. Jt may be necessary to send motorists to prison without the option." Street accidents have increased to such an alarming extent throughout the United States that the almost universal cry is "something must lie done," and the move for traffic safety is widespread. According to the "Literary Digest" <>f February 4, "a human life every halfhour day antl night every day of tl"' year will be the toll of automobile accidents in 10-22, if tbe death rate from such accidents remains approximately the same this year as last. Oflh-ials of the National Safety Council estimate that nearly 15,000 persons were killed in the United States last year, an increase of about 4000 over 1920." Commenting upon the large nitmlwr nf fatalities (1081) in New York State, the "New York World" say*:—"There is for most of them only one. class —carelessness- and the State k doing little to [nit the careless driver out of business ill which he is an hourly menace." Tbe "New York Herald" declares that sterner laws and more drastic sentences for drivers convicted of criminal carelessness -would help a good deal," and Judge Bartlett. who presides in the Municipal Court of Mtroit. has already "put hia fooj down with a linn hand" and sends persons convicted of speeding to the House of Correction, where they are required to work eight hours a day. Massachusetts has already lessened the number of traffic accidents by suspending the licenses of offending drivers, even when their offence lias had no tragic result. St. Louis is frequently referred to as "the safest big city in America," an achievement which is credited to tlie activities of a local Safety Council organised in May, 1018. Statistics show that in St.'Louis during tlie period 1917 to 1020 coroners' inquests decreased from 2000 to 1300. Fatal accidents to school children decreased from oO to 20. a reduction made in the face of a . _ »0 per cent i incrva.se in the number of vehicles, am ' claimed to be largely due to the systen lof safety education introduced into tli< i public and parochial schools as advocatec by the author. Dr. K. (1. Payne, principa of the Harris Teachers' College, St Louis. This instruction is l>eing copiet by schools of twenty-one cities, and ha. | lieen adopted by the States of Oregon : Texas, and Ohio. j In Francisco there has beei ; organised what is known as the Esst'baj Safety Council, representing the interestof Berkeley, Alameda, anil Oakland cities on the cant shore of San Kranciscc Bay, the officials of which comprise the ibiel's of police of the three cities, the Alameda coroner, superintendent and general manager of the San Francisco and Oakland railways, tlie district attorney, superintendent of schools, president of Boy Scouts, newspaper publisher and editor, and others. This council has issued an appeal to every member of the community to aid in preventing accidents in tlie streets of the Eastbay cities. The purpose of this appeal is to get every resident interested in promoting public and industrial safety, the prevention of accidents and conservation cf human life, and to co-operate with the constituted authorities in furthering the principles of safety. Its special object is the reduction of accidents and fatalities in the streets by creating an itmostibere of safety and" better" cooperation lietween pedestrians and the drivrrs of vrhicles \: Imtics are to l>e carried on through the homes, schools. churches, industries, railroads, and other agencies, special attention being given to educating the children in the schools tn lie safe arid to overcome the dangers oi tho streets. Some time ago the Auckland Automobile Association inaugurated a "safety first" campaign in Auckland, with the object of teaching pedestrians how tc use the public streets with safety tc themselves and tlie drivers of motor driven vehicles. Possibly the experiment was not altogether barren of good re suits, even though it may have done nothing more than serve to emphasise the increasing hazards of our mail thoroughfares. If human life, however is to be properly safeguarded and out streets rendered comparatively safe foi those who have occasion to "use them whether as pedestrians or drivers o: motor-driven vehicles, some hWhei authority than the Automobile Associa tion will be required at the head of am future safety movement which may br inaugurated "in this or any other "cit\ of the Dominion.