ROAD SAFETY Mixed Reaction To Report

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31161, 10 September 1966, Page 16

ROAD SAFETY Mixed Reaction To Report

(N Z. Press Association/

WELLINGTON, Sept. 9.

Officials of most road-safety and transport bodies today expressed support for the Road Safety Committee’s report tabled in Parliament.

Some held reservations. however, about the practical application of some of the new recommendations.

The assistant-commissioner of Transport Mr A. J. Edwards) said that from the department's point of view the report was a good one, “Of course, we don't know how much the Government is going to adopt, but we think it covers all aspects pretty well and is most helpful,” he said.

Mr Edwards said the suggestion to give courts the power to make a driver re-sit the driving test was “a good one in view of the recent raising of driving standards. “It would give a number of

people a better idea of the standards now required by drivers on the roads,” he said. The president of the Wellington council of the Automobile Association (Dr. S. J. Thomson, of Levin, said the report contained much that had been said in the past, but some of the newer recommendations in it would “have to be looked at closely.” The recommendation on speed limits was made without proof that increased speed led to increased accidents, he said.

“It hasn't been proved, although the report presumes it. There is definitely a case for a higher speed limit in some areas."

But he did not think speed limits for outside lanes would be “entirely practical.” The president of the Road Transport Alliance (Mr C. R. Robinson) thought the report was “quite a good one.” “We feel road safety is paramount, and although the disqualification of drivers may create some problems for us, w e will, as employers, have the right of an appeal to the courts to allow drivers at least a partial licence to carry out their work,” he said. The national secretary of

the Drivers’ Federation (Mr W. J. Welsh) said he agreed with the recommendation on speed limits. “Once we start an increase in the speed of cars we start a cycle which leads to buses wanting 50 m.p.h., trucks 45, and so on,” he said. He was not entirely happy with the points system for disqualification. “It all depends on who has the say, and what offences are included in the points-score system. “1 have seen this system in use in Detroit, but there every offence is counted and the chief of police has the say as to when disqualification is imposed,” said Mr Welsh. “This is obviously open to abuse.

“I think the report should specify what offences are to

be included in the points system, and what number of points are intended for specific offences.

The vice-president of the New Zealand Automobile Association (Mr T. M. N. Rodgers), said the report would be discussed by the association next week. The chairman of the Alcohol and the Driver Committee set up by the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association (Mr W. H. B. Bull) declined to comment.

“We spent many weeks discussing road safety with the committee, but 1 have not seen the report and would rather not comment on it,” he said.

Copies of the report have been delayed because of the dispute in the Government Printing Office. (Report, Page 3)