ROAD SAFETY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 285, 2 December 1938, Page 4

ROAD SAFETY.

WEEK'S CAMPAIGN.

REDUCING ACCIDENTS. PUBLIC CO-OPERATION SOUGHT. With a view to reducing road accidents, especially during the holiday season when the .roads will be used to a maximum extent, a Road Safety Week has been organised to commence next Sunday. Appropriate propaganda has been prepared and efforts are being made to claim the interest and co-operation of every member of the public. Slogans prepared by the Transport Department will be widely exhibited so as tj attract, the attention of pedestrians as well as drivers of mechanicallyeontrollfed vehicles. Service stations and garages will distribute stickers and leaflets. These will be displayed on rooter cars and taxi-cabs. Mudguard transfers will be available to cyclists through the Traffic Department at the Town Hall, schools and cycle dealers Trade vans and lorries will carry spevail calico display strips and the tram cars will carry aafety notices. Nothing will bojsft liTtjnnr to constantly remind the peddle ojf'ttie jimrposes of the campaign. It is cotoaidered imperative that there should ho pedestrian co-operation, and to attract'' Ms attention attractive leaflets will be distributed by local retail stores,* these being placed in every parcel to be put over the counter next week v Banners will be suspended at internals across main streets. Many of th«fc theatres have promised to screen appropriate Safety Week slides. Principles in Practice. Those controlling the organisation recognise that slogans will not accomplish everything. They claim that the. principles of safety will need to be observed in general practice- by all users of the rond throughout the period of the cam|uiign. Strict observance of traflic regulations and a complete understanding between pedestrians and motorists at all pedestrian crossing* are aimed at. It is also considered that a greater degree of« road j courtesy on the highways will help to make the week a success.

The Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, will inaugurate the campaign on Sunday. Hie scheme as far as Auckland is concerned has been organised by a committee representative of all branches of the community. Its members include representatives of the City and Borough Councils, the police, the clergy, the Hospital Board, the St. John Ambulance Association, the Automobile Association, the Education Board, the Headmasters' Association, the Chamber of Commerce and other organisations, including several motoring bodies. Sermons dealing with road safety will be delivered in many of the churches on Sunday and radio addresses will be given each evening descriptive of what road safety should mean. The speakers will be:—Mr. A. S. Bailey, chairman of the Auckland committee: Mr. A. Ely, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce; Mr. W. Hutchfeon. secretary of the Automobile Association (Auckland): the Hon. IT. (J. Mason, chairman of the Auckland Transport Board; and i.lr. H. ft. Hall, secretary of the Auckland Headmasters' Association. Decorated Vehicles. Xext Monday processions < f six decorated vehicles in each instance will leave C'hristchurch and Wellington, the first travelling to Invercargill and the other to Auckland. The object U for a visit to be paid to all towns en route as an extra reminder to drivcis and pedestrians to respect tlie underlying reasons for Road Safety Week. *The v orth Island procession is due at Auckland on Friday, December 9. Arrangements have been made for a St. John ambulance, a fire engine and some renresentative vehicles to join in on the outskirts of the city. The profession will proceed through Queen Stre-t and around the various suburbs.