Educating motorists

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34072, 9 February 1976, Page 14

Educating motorists

Only the most optimistic citizens expect quick and lasting results from campaigns to educate motorists not to flout the laws of the road. Experience in New Zealand in the last few years suggests that the Australian road accident specialist (Dr Hans Pacy) is right when he states that people are more afraid of being fined than they are of being killed or maimed. The blind confidence expressed in the attitude “ it can’t happen to me ” dictates frequently the behaviour of drivers who, in other aspects of their lives, are cautious, law-abiding citizens. Unfortunately, the same attitude is adopted by many drivers towards law enforcement. Most drivers know the rules of the road; most probably have a fairly accurate idea of how much they can drink before the level of alcohol in their blood exceeds the legal limit. Concentrated traffic enforcement “ blitzes ” in Christchurch and other centres have shown that a remarkable number of those who drive are still prepared to risk detection and the penalties available to the courts

But driver education has not been “ a complete failure ” as Dr Pacy suggests. All drivers readily accept some education in road behaviour: then excessive confidence and individual arrogance appear to operate against the acceptance of further instruction. It remains a sad fact of life on the roads that most people, when they break the law, do get away with it. Technicalities of the law, especially in relation to alcohol and driving, allow others to escape penalty, even when their offences are detected. The need for stiffer penalties, far more assured detection of offenders, and far less opportunity for evasions of the law are constantly under review by the Ministry of Transport The Ministry’s performance can be no better than Parliament, the courts, and the money and staff available will permit. A place remains for further driver education, if only to ensure that all drivers have a reasonable opportunity to know what the law Is and how it is interpreted. Sterner penalties and greater certainty of detection are evidently needed, in the long run a lasting change in the attitude of the community would be the best deterrent of all.