STUDY OF N.Z. ROAD SAFETY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28981, 24 August 1959, Page 13

STUDY OF N.Z. ROAD SAFETY

Recommendation For Tasmania

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 23.

After nine days’ study of the road safety system of New Zealand, the Tasmanian Minister of Transport (Mr J. B. Connolly) is convinced that full-time departmental of local body officers are more efficient than the police in matters of traffic control. "They have no other duties to perform,” he said, "and therefore become specialists at their work. With the police, however, traffic control is just one of many jobs that fill their day.” Mr Connolly has been in Wellington and travelled with transport departmental officers between the two cities. He returns to Hobart tomorrow with the intention of recommending to his Cabinet that the Tasmanian Transport Commission employ at least some full-time traffic officers. At present the work is done by the police. • He will also recommend that motor-cyclists be compelled to wear safety helmets and that public and private vehicles be subject to inspection twice a year Private vehicles were not at present required to undergo regular inspections. Although the population of Tasmania is only 335,000 the accident rate there was double that of New Zealand, Mr Connolly said. He expects the measures he intends to recommend will bring about a big improvement.