ROAD SAFETY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22492, 29 August 1938, Page 12

ROAD SAFETY

PUBLICITY AND EDUCATION

REDUCTION OF ACCIDENTS AMONG MOTOR-CYCLISTS

The report of the New Zealand Auto-cycle Union, which will be placed before the Road Safety Council, indicates that substantial * progress has been made in the movement by motor-cyclists to decrease the number of accidents.

Support has been given by practically all the North Island motor-cycle clubs, and at their meetings valuable assistance has been given by transport officers. The combined Canterbury Road Safety Council has accomplished wonderful work in the South Island

The New Zealand Auto-cycle Union considers that in some districts tests for motor-cyclists are inadequate. It recommends that the clubs in the various centres should make representations to the local authorities to make the tests more severe. The union feels that the tests cannot select or ensure that riders shall be careful, courteous, and accident-free, and it considers that some form of education of the new rider is absolutely essential. It suggests that this education might well be provided by a course of lectures during the learner’s early experience. The provision of learner’s plates has also been suggested. Publicity Organisation

Publicity sub-committees are being set up throughout New Zealand to act as the mouthpieces of local motorcycle road safety committees, to pub-

licise road safety educational material and to act as local representatives of the proposed motor-cycling road safety magazine. Road safety slogans have been supplied by the Transport Department to clubs for use in the press in conjunction with the name of the local committee. '

The union feels that a road safety booklet similar to the Road Code would be much less effective in the long run, and much more expensive than an interesting 16-page magazine produced every two months, distributed free to every motor-cyclist, whether club member or not, carrying paid advertising and conveying its message in as graphic a manner as possible. It is felt by the union that a substantial booklet or code, distributed free, would probably be glanced at and put aside. These small magazines would maintain continuity, which is absolutely essential in the road safety educational process. Honorary Patrols

Motor-cycle honorary patrols have been giving valuable service for several months in Christchurch, and for lesser periods in the Auckland province, in the Manawatu. and in a number of other districts. The system Is being gradually extended throughout the Dominion.