CARE URGED ON MOTORISTS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27564, 22 January 1955, Page 6

CARE URGED ON MOTORISTS

“SPEEDS CREEPING UP AGAIN”

WARNING BY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 21.

“Speeds are creeping up again, and motorists are generally not driving as carefully as they did during the holiday period,” said the Minister of Transport' (Mr W. S. Goosman) tonight. There would be a repetition of last summer’s heavy road toll unless more care was. used, said the Minister, He had a duty to warn all road users of this. Traffic counts showed that traffic volumes were about 25 per cent, higher than last summer.'

“The next few weeks are fraught with danger on the roads. I ask all motorists to accept this, and to drive with the utmost care and vigilance,” said Mr Goosman. Risky overtaking and speed too fast for conditions were outstanding causes of open road accidents.

The campaign against the drinking driver, which resulted in 172 convictions and 73 prison sentences during the last three months,, would be continued with special police action and extra week-end patrols by traffic authorities, he said. Flying squads, which had been used so successfully over the holidays, would continue duty wherever they were needed. . “I would remind drivers that a conviction for overtaking where visibility is restricted will usually mean the sus pension of the driving licence,” said Mr Goosman. “Drivers who exceed the speed limit and have had two previous convictions stand a good chance of having their licences suspended, too.” Although some drivers seem to think that, once they were clear of the main roads, there was little chance of an accident, the Minister warned that this was not the case. Fatal accident records for last year showed an increase in deaths of nearly 16 per cent, in the built-up areas, and 43 per cent, on the back-country roads. The increase on State and main highways was 8 per cent.