‘Roadshow’ achieving aim

Press, 27 November 1982, Page 17

‘Roadshow’ achieving aim

Parliamentary reporter "Roadshow 83. " the road safety campaign which started in Christchurch last year, has turned into the biggest theatrical tour ever undertaken in New Zealand, the show's writer, composer, and director. Mr John Densem. believes. A crew and cast of 21. including nine Christchurch actors from the original cast, with $lOO,OOO worth of sound and lighting equipment, will be on the road for six months next year. During that time they will stage three performances a day. The trust which is organising the tour hopes that each one of New Zealand's 220.000 post-primary pupils will see the show. Mr Densem. a Christchurch City Council draftsman who has been seconded from his usual job to organise the tour, was in Wellington on Thursday to attend a brief ceremony at which the Minister of Transport. Mr Gain pledged $45,000 for resource kits. The kits will be given to every class that attends the show. They include 14 folders covering aspects of road safety and good driving techniques; slide and tape sets; a three-hour video tape; over-

head transparencies: and several road safety publications. The ceremony, which was attended by about 20 pupils of St Mary’s College in Wellington. took place outside Parliament Buildings ip front of the mangled remains of a car. Mr Gair said that “Roadshow 'B3'' was a wonderful opportunity to reach people who were about to attain the age where they would be most at risk from motor accidents. Of the 600 people killed on New Zealand roads so far this year. 42 per cent were aged between 15 and 24. “The problem does not solve itself unless people do something about it.” he said. The resource kits were

designed to reinforce the show’s message. “In Christchurch the programme has shown, a real impact on young men and women," said Mr Gair. “We have saved lives in Christchurch as a result of this programme. We hope to save more lives in the rest of New Zealand." Dr Morgan Fahey, a member of the Roadshow Trust, said that in Christchurch there had been a 14 per cent drop in injury accidents among the target age-group since the show was performed.. There had been a marked change in attitudes towards road safety. More of the young people wore seat belts and had professional driving instruction. The budget for the tour was about $450,000. Besides

the $45,000 Ministry of Transport grant, the Accident Compensation Corporation had provided $lOO,OOO. the Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council had given $20,000. $20,000 had come from the Insurance Council. and $26,000 had been given by the Urban Transport Board, Dr Fahey said. However, there had been difficulty in raising money from the private sector because of the difficult economic climate. The trust was considering whether lotteries should be run in schools to raise money for the performance. Although adults would' be charged a small fee to see the show at public performances, it was hoped that school pupils would see it without charge.