THE PRESS MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1980. Black Christmas on the roads

Press, 29 December 1980, Page 16

THE PRESS MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1980. Black Christmas on the roads

Anyone who has driven on the open highway in the last few days, and who has observed the speed limit of 80 kilometres an hour, will appreciate how few drivers seem to observe the limit Likewise, anyone who has attempted to keep a reasonable distance from other vehicles, only to find aggressive drivers “jumping the queue” and filling up the space, will be aware of the disregard for safety—of themselves and of other people—shown by many drivers. Frequently, too, drivers are provoked into overtaking in a dangerous manner because of the indifference of slower vehicles — perhaps towing caravans — to a build-up of cars behind them. TJhese are faults which stand out among holiday drivers on the open road, .incite of the best efforts of hardpressed officers from the Ministry of Transport It would be wrong to blame only Excessive speed, or following too closely behind other vehicles, for the sad list of deaths and injuries on the roads in the last few days. In some accidents these factors have played a part. They are symptoms of a wider holiday disease, a feeling among drivers that in the midst of a festive season the rules of the road can be stretched to breaking point; that whatever might have happened to someone else, they will not be involved in an accident. They and their passengers will not be maimed or killed.

The aggressive, the selfish, and the careless, drivers are being proved wrong in their optimism. As the toll? of deaths for the holiday period rises above 20, and the toll of injured soars much higher, New Zealanders have

good cause to be ashamed of their driving. They have the best reason imaginable — personal survival — for taking greater care and for observing the laws.

No-single cause can be found for a road toll well in excess of that for the same period last year. Restraints on buying petrol have been eased, and a general air of affluence is encouraging holiday driving. Many people are probably driving more miles than they did last summer. From the times when some fatal accidents have happened, alcohol has also been a significant factor. The hours round midnight, after hotels and clubs have closed, and when parties are breaking up, are not a safe time to be on the roads.

The Minister of Transport, Mr McLachlan, has said “the mental approach to driving is the core of the problem—people have to realise that they have a potentially lethal weapon , in. their hands.” So they do. That realisation is easily dimmed by alcohol. In spite of the blitz against drinking drivers, the message that drinking and driving do not mix has still to be reinforced more firmly.

The blitz increases a little the like? lihood that drunk drivers will be detected. The courts have been tougher, in their sentencing. Neither measure has been taken far enough. If the roads are to be made safer, the detection of offenders has to be more certain; tougher penalties are needed for those who are caught. The four days of the Christmas week-end have been a black time on the country’s roads. The New Year week-end is still to come.