P.M. backs safety call

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33413, 20 December 1973, Page 2

P.M. backs safety call

The Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) said in a letter to the North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday that he and his colleagues were glad to have the support of the board in any further measures, even drastic ones, which might help to ease the present road toll.

Last month the board agreed to write to Mr Kirk and other Ministers, calling for immediate action to help reduce the numMr of road accidents. The discussion was led by Mrs M. McG. Clark, who suggested that reckless drivers should have their cars impounded.

In his letter, read to the board yesterday, Mr Kirk said that he and his colleagues were very concerned about the increasing number of road accidents, and would do' everything in their power to' ensure that people drove more carefully.

The Minister of Health (Mr Tizard) said the board would

have his full support for any ; action that it might take. I The Minister of Transport [(Sir Basil Arthur) was away i from his office at the time. YOUTH SCHEME A board member. Mrs K. Tapara, said she wondered if it would be possible to introduce in Christchurch a scheme similar to that in Fresno. California, where teen-age driving offenders were required to visit the city’s ambulance sendees, hospitals and cemeteries.

Mrs Clark said that since the last meeting she had been told that a number of European countries, Finland for instance, took away a person’s driving licence for life upon conviction for driving while intoxicated. This had such an effect that partygoers either did not drink liquor, or arranged other transport home.

“We must maintain pressure on the Government to bring down legislation to help reduce the wholesale carnage on the roads,’’ said Mrs Clark.

Mrs L. E. Macfarlane suggested that all young persons. when they got their driver’s licence, should take a course of defensive driving. A number of people who had been driving for many years had benefited from such a course.

LOSS OF LICENCE The medical superintend-ent-in-chief (Dr L. McH. Berry) said that anyone twice convicted of careless driving should lose their licence for life.

“This may be considered infringing the rights of the individual but there comes a time when the rights of the community are more important,” said Dr Berry.