ACCIDENTS TO MOTORCYCLISTS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 159, 1 April 1938, Page 15

ACCIDENTS TO MOTORCYCLISTS

“Terrible Death Rate To Young Men” ENDEAVOUR TO ORGANISE ROAD SAFETt “Ten young men have died in the last 20 days as a result of mo4or-QC e accidents—the killed an' injured u motor-cycle mishaps during the tat fortnight have far exceeded the loss of life and limb in the recent rail • • accidents,” said the Minister of Ttans port, Hon. R. Semple, m an int f? ie " yesterday. Mr. Semple amplified remarks he made earlier m thei week concerning accidents to “Otoi'CJ,! ,' h “Representatives of the Christchu >. motor-cycling organisations met me Christchurch on Tuesday, and made! ft number of valuable suggestions to educating the young and mexperienc rider in sound road sense and roal courtesy,” said Mr. Semple. Tbes. sngs?esticns. set out below, received y full support. I appeal to all motorcycling organisations in New Zealanc to consider them urgently, and a * me whether they, too, are prepared to co-operate. „ , “The Christchurch clubs offered to assist In the road safety campaign to prepare and distribute a pamphlet their members on road safety and tra - flc rules, and to award a special badge at the end of each year to all those members who had not had any Pau marks against them during the year. The schemes are good ones, and I am prepared to assist them to the greatest extent possible. , “I believe also, that provision shoum be made for interesting and instructive lectures on road safety to young motor-cyclists while they are still learning and before they are Si v ® u their licenses. The Christchurch clubs are prepared, with the assistance of my department, to organise these lectures, and I invite the clubs in other centres to offer to do the same in their own districts. They have everything to gain from thus co-operating. “The reports of the traffic inspectors indicate that the members of motorcyclewclubs are among the best disciplined of all classes on road users,’ said the Minister. “The reckless riders have a club of their own —‘The Suicide Club.’ Every endeavour will be made to bring all motor-cyclists under an organisation of their own. If it be found that clubs are unable to undertake these responsibilities, provision may have to be made for all motorcyclists in each district to elect their own motor-cycle council. Something must be done urgently to organise road safety among young motor-cyclists. The present terrible death rate to our young men must be stopped.’