SAFETY ON THE ROADS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 72, 17 December 1938, Page 12

SAFETY ON THE ROADS

Appeal For Caution This Week-end MANY NEW DRIVERS A special appeal for the exercise of care and courtesy on the roads during the weekend was made by the Minister of Transport, Mr. Semple, last evening. He said that five days of this week had passed without a fatal road accident. A similar fatality-free period had been recorded last- week, but the record had been marred by two deaths during the weekend. Tour persons had lost their lives during the Saturday and Sunday of the previous week. The Minister said it was up to all cyclists, pedestrians,'and motorists, to do their bit this weekend by not taking any risk that might endanger the lives or limbs of other road-users. Excessive speed and passing on a bend or rise were fruitful causes of weekend accidents.

“Driving licence returns indicate that there has been a tremendous increase recently in applications for licences,” said Mr. Semple. “Some of these applications are from men and women who have not been driving for many months. Others are from those who have never driven before., The Wellington Road Safety Week Committee recently forwarded to me the following resolution regarding these new licences: ‘lt is the view of this executive that there should be a tightening up of the regulations applicable to the issue of driving licences in order to preclude as far as possible the possibility of learner-drivers gaining their experience at the expense of the heavy holiday traffic.’

“In 'view of the fact that there will tie-many new drivers on the roads this week-end and during the next fortnight, I would particularly appeal to all experienced drivers not to take unnecessary risks in traffic. The experienced driver may be able to get out of a tight corner, but the emergency he creates may cost the life of one less expert than himself. If everyone makes bis motto ‘cafe and courtesy’ this weekend, we may be able to go right through to Christmas without any tragedies on the road.”