SAFETY WEEK “WORTH WHILE”

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 93, 13 January 1939, Page 8

SAFETY WEEK “WORTH WHILE”

Traffic Inspectors Notice Improvement

BETTER CONDUCT ON WELLINGTON STREETS

“Safety Week has been well worth while,” said Mr. L. S. Drake, chief Wellington traffic inspector, yesterday.

The value of the campaign was shown by the fact that since December 5 there had been no fatal accident ou the city’s streets, and by the observations of the inspectors, who had noticed an improvement in the conduct of people using the streets. It had caused a general improvement in the conduct of drivers and pedestrians. There was room for much more improvement, but conduct was better than it had been, and he thought most insurance companies would notice the same trend as had been noticed by the N.I.M.U. Insurance Company, a decrease in claims.

Statistics showed that a similar campaign several years ago caused a distinct decrease in the number of accidents in Wellington, but as people forgot the lessons they had been taught during the campaign carelessness returned and the accident rate rose. This time the flying of the Safety Week flag was keeping the ideal of better driving and walking in mind. Public interest Was being maintained, and it was surprising the number of telephone calls that were received by the traffic department each day from people who asked whether the flag was still flying.