Road safety interest growing

Press, 14 October 1985, Page 4

Road safety interest growing

New Zealanders have shown a resurgence of interest in road safety, says the vice-president of the Road Safety Association, Mr Ralph Benny. He was speaking after the association’s national conference! held in Christchurch during the week-end. “For so long road safety has been a dead issue,” he said. “But people throughout the whole country are getting fed up with the continuing road toll. “They are beginning to ... realise that road safety is largely in the hands of the individual.” A much more responsible attitude from road users was needed, rather than more road-safety legislation. , Mr Benny said that 87 per cent of New Zealand’s road accidents were the result of people’s actions. Of these, 12.5 per cent were alcohol-

related. The Director of Road Transport, Mr Bill Shearer, told the conference that the recent introduction of systematic road accident investigation techniques had great potential for road safety. “These methods have reduced road accidents in the United Kingdom by identifying and implementing lowcost engineering solutions,” he said. “Accident investigation teams identify black spots where a number of accidents have occurred over a period of years. “Some have claimed that the recent disturbing increase in the road toll has been related directly to the new speed limit. The evidence provided by my research staff indicates that the new limit is probably not to blame for the recent rise.” In Julv this year, for

example, two-thirds of the fatalities took place in builtup areas that had not been subject to speed-limit changes, Mr Shearer said. “Some resources could be diverted into other road accident counter-measures. This is one reason the Ministry of Transport has been considering long-term or even life-time drivers’ licences.”

The Under-Secretary for Transport, Mr Jeffries, said that the Transport Amendment Act this year was a much needed piece of legislation.

“In relation to the security of loads on heavy trucks the statistics were conclusive,” he said. “Unsecured goods falling from heavy vehicles were causing, on average, 29 reported motor vehicle accidents each year. “From February next year a regime of strict liability will be imposed on

truck operators. This means that certain minimum standards of care will be required for loads.” Mr Jeffries outlined the proposed graduated driver licence system. “It is based on the fact that one improves a particular skill by regular practice. To help minimise hazards for the novice driver, certain types of restrictions have been proposed.” The scheme would have three stages, the first expected generally to take six months.

The second stage would take a year but successful completion of a defensive driving course or advanced driving tuition would reduce that to nine months.

The third stage would relate to long-term licence holders who would be free of special conditions. The proposed graduated

licence for motor-cyclists would be similar to that for car drivers.

The three-stage driver’s licence for car drivers were endorsed by the conference. Another was that all new vehicles be fitted with highlevel brake lights in a standard position.

Other remits passed were for external rear-view mirrors for vehicles, a law against wandering stock on roads, adequate footwear for motor-cyclists, review of exemptions for wearing seat-belts and crash helmets, removal of unnecessary signs on roads, more publicity on cyclists’ responsibilities on the road, identity marking for milk delivery vehicles, more reflective material on bicycle frames, and improved recognition of a driver’s identity on a driver’s licence.