TRAFFIC OFFENCES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 285, 1 December 1936, Page 18

TRAFFIC OFFENCES.

EDUCATING DRIVERS.

NOVEL GERMAN METHODS,

LANTERN LECTURES GIVEN,

Most "motoriseel" countries are to-day endeavouring to solve traffic problems, but 110 two nations appear to be tackling the situation in the same manner.

Germany, with characteristic ' thoroughness, has adopted one system of dealing with traffic delinquents which might well be given a trial in other countries 011 account of its educational effort to teach first offenders against traffic laws and road courtesy, where they have erred.

To traffic delinquents is mailed the following letter from the German Police Presidency:— "You were recently apprehended by a police officer 011 account of a contravention of the traffic regulations. On this account it appears that you are apparently not fully conversant with the traffic regulations. Before recourse is had to serving you with a summons and imposing a fine upon you, you are to be

given an opportunity to improve your knowledge of traffic regulations by attendance at a lantern lecture.

"You are therefore requested to attend 011 Tuesday next at the large Assembly Hall of the Police Presidency at (i p.m. The speaker will be the chief traffic officer. Should you be prevented from taking part, would you kindly inform us to this effect, in order that we maj make arrangements for you to take part at the next lecture. This letter should lie presented on arrival."

' Some 200 persons arc summoned to each meeting where they are not treated as offenders, but respectfully greeted by the chief traffic officer. A lantern lecture is then given, which explains in the clearest possible manner the pros and cons of the traffic code, not only in its application to drivers of vehicles, but also to cyclists and pedestrians.

At the conclusion of the lecture the police officer notifies those present that by reason- of their having shown determination to learn for themselves the traffic regulations, they will be released from payment of fines for the respective traffic offences committed.

Here, surely, is a commonsense method of bringing home to first offenders their responsibility in regard to observance of the code of the road. School Instead of Gaol. Wichita, Kansas, also has a scliool instead of a gaol for traffic violators. The offender is sentenced and then parolled 011 condition that he completes the traffic course. Failure to attend, or tardiness, sends liim back to court, where his parole is revoked and he pays his fine or goes to gaol. Each school session consists of a roll call and a 30minutes' lecture, followed by 30 minutes of discussion.

After sessions two nights a. week over a period of three weeks, an examination is given, usually 40 questions of the "true-false" type. In one year the school has had 525 graduates, and only nine have been rearrested as traffic violators. Detroit, Minneapolis, Portland, Kansas City, Evanston, Grand Rapids, St. Louis, Berkeley and Chicago have recently set up similar schools, states an article in " The American City/