POLICE CAR SIRENS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29744, 10 February 1962, Page 10

POLICE CAR SIRENS

Retention Urged

The Commissioner of Police (Mr C. L. Spencer) is to be asked by the South Island Motor Union his intentions concerning sirens on police vehicles.

At the union's council meeting yesterday, delegates expressed concern at a report that the commissioner had had the sirens disconnected in police cars in Wellington and possibly elsewhere because of misuse. The commissioner is to be told of the union’s concern.

“It is essential that police cars should sound a siren when they are speeding on urgent business, as otherwise ordinary road-users will not know to get out of the way,” said Mr M. C. McKenzie (vice-president. Southland).

“If there is misuse, the commissioner can discipline the offenders. It is foolhardy to send out police cars without sirens," said Mr C. H. Harvey (Southland). A police officer could hardly be expected to keep to a speed limit when trying to catch an escaping criminal, he thought. The president (Mr E. C. Champion, Canterbury) said that police discipline was not the union’s concern, but the safety of road-users was. Mr T. E. V. Turpin (Otago) thought the siren gave a road-user the chance to protect himself against what could be a nasty smash. Mr F. J. Robinson (South Canterbury) suggested the union might wait until the sirens were finally removed before making a complaint.

“We should not wait. Everyone’s life is at stake in this. A woman pedestrian was killed at Oamaru recently by a speeding official vehicle,” said Mr J. C. Kirkness (North Otago).

Mr E. R. Casbolt (Canterbury) moved that the commissioner should be told that the union viewed the report with concern, and should be asked for information on his intentions, and this was carried without dissent.