BIGGEST KILLERS'

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 177, 29 July 1941, Page 8

BIGGEST KILLERS'

DRIVERS UNDER 25 "THE AGE OF SPEED" (P A ) WELLINGTON, this day.' The Commissioner of Transport, Mr. G. L. Laurenson, at a Road Safety Council meeting called attention to the high percentage of accidents in which drivers under 25 were involved. Though only constituting 12 per cent of the drivers. they were concerned in 2o per cent of "the accidents. "There is no doubt they are the biggest killers on the road. This is the ape of speed and they go for it.' he said. The matter of accident -repeaters" was discussed and that the position was unsatisfactory was shown by a case quoted by Mr. Laurenson. He said one driver had been involved in ten accidents since 1937—0ne fatal and one involving serious personal injury—but because he had been able to procure »a medical certificate and had passed the driving test with flying colours he was still on the road and still a menace. He had been three times prosecuted and his insurance claim record totalled £1689 11/2.

"Yet," said Mr. Laurenson. "that driver was a fit driver and was competent under the eye of the inspector who carried out the test. In fact, he is simply reckless.' .

Mr. J. S. Hawkes remarked that the drunken driver who was put off the roads was still a good driver when sober and could produce a medical certificate.

Mr. Laurenson said it was possible that the "other"' grounds provided for in the present law would be sufficient to have a particular driver's license revoked but he certainly would ha\'e the right of appeal.