EDUCATING THE ROAD USER

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 286, 30 August 1935, Page 20

EDUCATING THE ROAD USER

Commendable Plan of the Motor Organisations

With commendable length of vision, the motor unions propose a national road safety campaign over a period of from seven to ten years. A sum of £70,000 contributed by motor unions. Government, oil concerns, motor traders, and general insurance companies, is aimed at,' the Government being asked for a £5 for £1 subsidy. The only ■ justification needed for such a national effort lies in the 7000 casualties and 182 deaths as the. road toll of New Zealand last year. Up till now the work of road safety education has fallen on the willing shoulders of the motorists through their organisations, and the Government must now be seized with the urgent necessity of identifying itself wholeheartedly with a subject which, | after all, is a national matter. As pointed out before road safety is recog-1 nised as the job of the State overseas. In New Zealand most tangible evidence of the Government’s practical interest exists in the compilation of melancholy statistics, the framing o’’ regulations, many of which are not enforced, and failure to ensure uniformity in several phases of driving and riding. There is much that is of ineffective patchwork quality in the regulation and control of road and street traffic in the Dominion. The correction of that fault devolves on the Government, and should be a job parallel in incidence with the launching of the safety campaign. Wisely, the motor unions are concentrating chiefly on the young idea though, of course, education will include all road users whether pedestrian or vehicular. Traffic density is increasing yearly, and every section of the community must be imide aware of the hazards of the roads. That work cannot be started too early. Its start is belated, though that is no fault of our motoring administrators.

Mr. Erreld G. Martin, manager for New Zealand of-the Atlantic Union Oil Company, who lias been spending a holiday with Mrs. Martin in U.S.A., is expected to return to Wellington early in October. In a letter to “Chassis” Mr. Martin stated that lie and were involved in a train wreck, but the tourists were not injured. » o * Mr. W. (>. Brian, manager of Anthony Motors. Ltd., has been visaing New Plymouth. John Chambers and Sous have been appointed New Zealand agents for the Daimler bus chassis. A new firm in Wellington i.s Zealandia Motors with headquartei.s ai. rhe Lambton garage. The linn has been appointed Standard car distributors for this territory. Mr. F. G. Jolly, who was managing director for E. It'-y--nolds and Co., Ltd., has a similar position with the new firm, and Mr. James Cruse is the service manager.