LEGISLATING FOR ROAD SAFETY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 217, 10 June 1936, Page 8

LEGISLATING FOR ROAD SAFETY

Recent speeches by the Minister oj Transport on the subject of road accidents had prepared the country for legislation designed to make good his expressed determination to make the highways safer. His remarks on that point were given general approval; and the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill, debated on its second reading in the House of Representatives on Monday, is more or less along the lines of what was expected. As Mr. Semple said, road safety is above party. It is a national problem of increasing gravity, requiring the co-operation of all sections of the community for its solution. The point Mr. Coates, that the systematic education of the public on the rule’s and the courtesies of the road would achieve more than legislation, is of great importance; and part of the Government’s policy should be to sec that this importance is given due emphasis. Speaking generally, the Bill meets the requirements of the case, and if its provisions when in operation are rigorously enforced the roads ought to be much safer than they are now. Hoiyever, many road accidents are the result of acts of carelessness which stop short of legal negligence, and it is difficult to see how traffic laws can be expected to cure carelessness unless, by some process of education, public opinion can sfet up a new standard of road ethics.