SAFETY ON THE ROADS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21197, 22 June 1934, Page 7

SAFETY ON THE ROADS

TRAFFIC OFFICERS CONFER . | NEW PHASES DISCUStED BY COMMISSIONER [THE PRESS Special Servlca l 1 WELLINGTON, June 21. A review of the traffic.regulations at present in force and certain alterations to them which are under conI sideration, and a discussion on views and guiding principles on various general matters for the achievement of uniformity concerning traffic control procedure, formed the main business at the conference of traffic officers from all parts of the Dominion which has been silling in Wellington. The conference, the first of its kind to be held in New Zealand, was presided over by the Commissioner of Transport, Mr J. S. Hunter. Fortyfive delegates were present. Addressing the delegates, Mr Hunter said the Government wished to express its appreciation of the action of local authorities in so readily falling in with the proposal to hold the conference, and in agreeing to allow their traffic officers to be present. This conference constituted the first called by the Government to discuss traffic problems, and it was extraordinary that it should be the first, seeing that the Government, through the Transport Department, formulated the laws and regulations dealing principally with motor traffic, which were then left to the local authorities to administer. In recent years, care had been taken, in formulating legislative proposals, to secure collaboration with the local authorities and others interested before the proposals were placed before Parliament for consideration, and that line of action would be followed in the future. Development of Motor Transport There could be no doubt, Mr Hunter continued, that with the development of motor transport, road transport had reached a stage where the closest consultation was necessary between the framers of laws and those responsible for carrying them out throughout the Dominion. It was really impossible to dissociate the Government's interests from the interests of the local governing bodies, in the administration of these laws. During recent years, new phases of traffic and transport regulation had developed. The functions of traffic officers were no longer confined merely to traffic control, and the responsibility of traffic officers had now become infinitely greater. Every country in the world was looking for ways and means of coping with this particular problem. The development of the motor had not only intensified the traffic problem, but also it had created one of much greater significance, that of road safety. In many countries it had rendered roads the greatest menace to life and personal safety that one had to contend with to-day. Generally speaking, Mr Hunter added, the activities of those engaged in traffic control might be classified into the following main headings:— 1. Safety of the public. 2. Necessity for dispatch in transit (i.e., the time factor). 3. Road damage and capacity. 4. "Regulation of commercial transport.

Safety of the Public It was not necessary, and time would not permit, the whole position In respect of the major questons involving the safety of the public to be traversed at the conference. Those present were sufficiently well versed in the matter. But the conference had been called primarily to review the safety requirements in force, and new proposals would be placed before it for consideration. The department looked upon the conference as an excellent method of ascertaining first-hand how the machinery provided by the Government actually worked in practice. It appreciated that there was a multitude of forms, and that the time and patience of the public were called upon to a very great degree in the interest of safety. The onus was upon those responsible to review the position from time to time, and see whether the call upon the time and patience of the public was justified by the results obtained. The Government's policy was definitely to frame laws and regulations to attain the ends desired, and it was fully realised that possibly the greatest benefit was obtained from the educative and patient assistance of those placed in charge of the very wide powers extended by the statutes and regulations. It was inevitable, however, that discipline had to be maintained to secure the greatest measure of safety, and that recklessness and even thoughtlessness had on occasions to be definitely punished.