Vehicle accidents “chronic disease”

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32587, 22 April 1971, Page 3

Vehicle accidents “chronic disease”

(New Zealand Press Association) HAMILTON, April 21. Motor vehicle accidents had become a chronic disease of major concern to New Zealand’s health authorities, said Dr R. P. Irwin in Hamilton today.

The head of Hamilton Teachers’ College physical education department, Dr Irwin was a student and graduate assistant at the University of Illinois. He gained his Ph.D. in health education and did research on driver education.

Dr Irwin said that driving on New Zealand’s roads was extremely dangerous. More

than what was being suggested must be done to curb accidents, “otherwise our actions must be considered negligent.” “On the basis that accidents don’t just happen—they are caused— m must recognise that the underlying causes of this chronic disease have their beginnings in our behaviour in early life.

“It is obvious we are not successful in controlling these behavioural outcomes,” Dr Irwin said.

i The community’s three control approaches were legisla- , tive (law enforcement, breathalysers), environmental (highways, car safety devices) and educational (defensive driving courses). Education stressed But the educational controls were not being fully used at present—the effectiveness of the other controls was actually reliant on the educational aspect. “We are dealing with attitudes and beliefs within our culture. Motor vehicle accidents will have to be considered a form of maladjusted behaviour which is totally unacceptable,” Dr Irwin said.

If education was to be fully constructive in moulding driving behaviour, it had to precede the practice behind the wheel of the car. Driver education offered such a possibility. “Any behind-the-wheel instruction should be preceded by at least 30 hours classroom instruction as a basis for effective driving,” he said. The punitive actions suggested by much public comment and inferred in statements about the Parliamentary Committee on Road Safety would seem to be stop-gap, said Dr Irwin. Immediate and long-term remedies were needed.

Dr Irwin suggested the following possible remedial actions:

Providing effective driver

education courses for all fourth formers in secondary schools; 30 hours classroom instruction for pre-driyers. Providing in-service training for tiie teachers involved, using the precedent of training within industry. Raising the minimum driving age to at least 18—as an exemption special licences could be granted for under-18 drivers, for example, where driving was required for a job, a licence could be granted for working hours undet the employers’ jurisdiction. Also, early licensing might be granted foi those who completed a 30-hour classroom introduction to driving. Ensuring that all learnerdrivers complete comprehensive tests before beginning practice behind the wheel. ■ At motor vehicle registration, providing a differential third party insurance premium that penalised the under-25 driver who was not married or who had not taken an approved driver education course. Providing regular refresher courses for all drivers. Setting up joint planning and implementation by the Ministry of Transport, the Health Department and the Education Department.