ROAD SAFETY PLAN

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 204, 26 May 1938, Page 8

ROAD SAFETY PLAN

Motor-cycle Clubs Submit Scheme To Minister DESIRE TO CO-OPERATE The desire of motor-cycle clubs throughout Hie Dominion to co-operate in liny scheme making for greater safety on the roads was expressed by a deputation from the New Zealand AutoCycle Union which waited upon the Minister of Transport, Hon. K. Semple, yesterday. The Minister .said that something had to be done in connection with motor-cycles. It was the duty of everybody to help establish safety on the roads.

The deputation consisted of Messrs. F. Jones and A. Way. Mr. Jones said that the motor-cycle clubs appreciated the vast amount of work and thought that the Minister had given to road safety, and his endeavours to safeguard the Ilves of the jieople on the highways. He told the Minister that the clubs throughout New Zealand were one with him in his efforts to preserve life, and any scheme that would assist in reducing the number of road accidents would have the wholehearted support of all motor-cycle clubs in the Dominion. Committee’s Suggestions. The following suggestions, as drawn up by a motor-cyclists’ road-safety committee in Christchurch, were submitted to the Minister. (1) That the clubs set up a motorcycle road-safety committee in each centre.

(2) That an award of a badge be made through the clubs to riders who have been free of accidents or convictions.

(3) That the clubs endeavour by every means in their power to inculcate a road-safety spirit among their members, and to raise the standard of motor-cycle riding in their districts. (4) That provision be made by the clubs for lectures on sound riding technique, road sense, and road courtesy, these to be taken by young and inexperienced riders before they are tested for the licences, and the Transport Department to supply road-safety material, posters, films, etc. (5) That a road-safety booklet for motor-cyclists be produced in conjunction with the Transport Department. (6) That the clubs use all forms of available publicity to spread among motor-cyclists a sense of road courtesy. Twelve honorary “assistant patrols” had been appointed in Christchurch, said Mr. Jones, their functions being to give assistance where needed, to give advice and warning where such are warranted, and to report serious breaches of regulations to the civic traffic authorities, who had undertaken to act in conjunction with the committee in its activities. There was an understanding that breaches reported to the city authorities would not be made the subject of prosecution, but merely personal or written warning from inspectors. Mr. Way supported the remarks made and asked that action by the department be postponed for three or four months to allow the clubs to put their own house in order. They agreed that the number of accidents was 100 high, due mainly, they considered, to the youth of most of the motor-cyclists. Reply by Mr. Semple. Mr. Semple thanked the deputation for coining along with constructive proposals. He said that during the period March 15, 1937, to March 31, 1938, the position was as follows: —Twenty-six motor cyclists and two pillion riders were killed; 177 motor-cyclists and 3(1 pillion-riders were seriously injured; 406 motor-cyclists and 145 pillion riders received minor injuries; total, 609 motor-cyclists and 283 pillion riders killed or injured; grand totals, 892 motor-cyclists and pillion ridel's killed and injured. The total number of motor-vehicles on the road was 300.000, of which 26.000 were motor-cycles, so that the proportion of accidents was very high indeed. The Minister said that the fundamental cause of these accidents was either a disregard for the rules of the road or sheer ignorance. As to motorcycles, he thought that most of these accidents happened to young men. These youths bought a motor-cycle, had not the faintest idea of the dangers of the road, got the speed craze, and away they went. They had not the faintest idea of the destructive agency of the machine they rode, both from their own point of view and the view of others with whom they came in contact. He considered that 90 per cent, of the accidents on the roads of the Dominion were preventable, and were due to the human element. Greater Courtesy on Road. All sections of the community frankly admitted that the conditions bad improved; there was a greater degree of care and courtesy on the road. That was all right up to a point, but it could not be assumed that the maximum had been done. There were too many people being killed on the roads of New Zealand, and he would be giad of the co-operation of the motor-cycle organisations to improve the position. He doubted whether there was any other country which could show a similar position: an increase of 30 per cent, in the number of vehicles, with no increase in the number of accidents. He would be pleased to allow the motor-cycle organisations time to prepare a scheme. He wished to gel the complete cooperation of every road-user and every right-thinking citizen of the Dominion, said -Mr. Semple. They could not got that measure of protection necessary for the travelling public until everyone in the Dominion regarded I lie campaign as his campaign. All must cooperate; a question of public safety should not be made a political one.