Vehicles Ordered Off Roads

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31381, 29 May 1967, Page 7

Vehicles Ordered Off Roads

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 26.

More than 100 vehicles had been ordered off the roads this week during the Transport Department’s campaign for safer night driving, the Assistant Commissioner of Transport (Mr B. C. Campbell) said tonight.

About 85,000 vehicles were checked, and transport officers issued 3166 traffic offence notices and gave 2893 warnings. The number of vehicles checked represented 8 per cent of the vehicles in the country. Mr Campbell said it was alarming that 5.6 per cent were unsafe. The major faults were in lighting. A number of vehicles were also without warrants of fitness.

“Surely every driver knows that his motor-vehicle must have a warrant of fitness,” Mr Campbell said. “There is no excuse for the 1032 people

who were caught driving without one.**

The Chief Traffic Superintendent (Mr J. C. Edwards) said tonight that it appeared many people did not know how to handle driving conditions at night The main cause of accidents at night were excessive speed, failure to keep left, and intoxication, he said. Mr Edwards said attention and alertness were essential for night driving. “Motorists must adjust their speed to the distance they can see,” he said. “They should remember that it is only when you can see and be seen that you are safe.”