Extra traffic officers to be recruited

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33454, 8 February 1974, Page 3

Extra traffic officers to be recruited

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 7. Another 54 traffic officers would be recruited by the Ministry of Transport to increase anti-accident patrols, said the Minister of Transport (Sir Basil Arthur) today.

This would bring the number of enfortement staff to 802, he said. The Ministry would proceed immediately to recruit the extra officers, and it was hoped that all of them would be recruited within the next few months. “They will go straight into training school and will be posted to their new loca-

tions as soon as they have completed their initial training. They will be assigned to districts which have the most pressing need for extra staff.” This was the second substantial increase in the number of traffic officers within the last year, said Sir Basil Arthur. In July, 1973, Government approved the immediate recruitment of 50 traffic officers subject to the position being reviewed when 35 of those officers had been appointed. “The recruitment of those 50 has now been completed, and the men are on duty throughout the country. RECOMMENDATIONS “This total increase is in accordance with the recommendation of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Road Safety, which felt that the presence of traffic officers on the road acted as a strong deterrent to dangerous and careless driving. “I subscribe to that view,” said the Minister. “Naturally the increase in staff is desirable on the ground of road safety, but there are also economic and social grounds on which an increase is desirable. BLITZ SAVINGS “For example, economic ; advantages have accrued from increased enforcement • in the traffic blitzes at Ham-

ilton and Christchurch last year,” said Sir Basil Arthur. “In Hamilton it is estimated that benefits outweighed costs by $28,000.” There was also evidence that accident numbers were reduced in the months after a blitz. This would yield further economic benefits because most injury accidents involved considerable medical and related costs. Similar economic benefits had accrued from the Christchurch blitz. “I do not use these examples to suggest that the increase in enforcement staff will result in one long blitz nation-wide, but rather to indicate that the increase need not necessarily involve unreasonable extra expenditure,” Sir Basil Arthur said. OFF DESKS “I have said since I became Minister that too many traffic officers are tied to their desks and paper work when they should be out on the roads preventing accidents. “I am confident that this situation is now being overcome.” The extra staff would also mean more officers available for mufti patrols.