ROAD SAFETY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 55, 6 March 1937, Page 10

ROAD SAFETY

N.Z. COUNCIL'S WORK

REMOVING DANGERS

MINISTER'S REVIEW.

Some of the measures which are being taken to improve the standard of the roads and streets in the Dominion in order to achieve a greater degree of safety were outlined today by the Minister of Transport (the Hon. R, Semple). ■■-■"The New Zealand Road Safety Council last year set up a sub-com-mittee whose function it was to point out the various hazards arising from faulty road conditions and to make recommendations as to the remedial measures necessary to lessen or remove these hazards," he said. "The sub-com-mittee's'report was adopted by the Safety Council at its last meeting in November. "As a result of. the recommendations of- the RoadJSafety Council I have circularised all local road-controlling authorities, drawing attention to the main hazards that are known to exist by reason of faulty road conditions, and requesting their co-operation in maintaining a proper standard of safety in regard to the road itself. Apart from roads solely controlled by local \ bodies, the Main Highways Board is encouraging the general adoption on main {highways of the measures advocated fby the Safety Council, and is itself to give active effect to the recommendations of the Council with altfiew to minimising the risks of accidcSits. \ PROTECTIVE FENCING. "iJThe Main Highways Board proposes to Vet aside £25,000 annually for the puitposes of erecting protective fencing \ and providing safety barriers at schools and other safety measures whene dangerous conditions now exist. This \\im will be used wholly for work additional to that usually covered by jnaint<\nance expenditure. Super-eleva-tion on curves, sign-posting, painting bridge Wails and approach fences, pavement rharkings, bridge planking, etc will receive attention in the normal course itf maintenance activities." Mr. Semple stated that as a result of his representations he had received a-considerable number of letters from local .authorities all over the Dominion assuring him of their willingness to assist 'in the safety campaign by carrying ckut to the limit of their financial ability the road improvements which are necessary for safety in their pa tticular districts. "The resnonse of road-controlling authorities generally, from the Main HighAvays ;Board and the larger county and iWough councils down to the smallest .focal administrative units, has been mcWt gratifying," said Mr. Semple. "Thefre is, however, one point upon which-I Would like to comment I Judging from a reply which I received, at least one local body ap.pears to consiiier that obstruction to ■ vision at- corners and intersections does not constitute an undesirable feature, as it cimsures that the motorist is compelled to reduce speed almost to a standstill in order that he will not r.van into anybody, or vif he does, that the consequences will be slight. \ "If such a retrograde policy were carried to its extreme and applied to all road improvements, the reading system of this country would consist of-narrow lanes wi^-h rough surfaces and every possible < hazard designed to prohibit speed. T£ie modern car is even now capable ctf much higher speeds than any of ofer roads can permit with safety. \ . TO CURB RECKLESSNESS. "Our aim should be constantly £o improve our roads in\ an endeavoiir to keep pace with modes:n car development, but at the samq time to curb the reckless or careless^ few who will take risks not warrantdd by the road improvements so far achieved. Hand in hand with road improvements goes the increasing need for a'reater attention being paid to the aeliievement of higher standards of care) and consideration on the part of drivers of motorvehicles and road-users ge:'n erally. This j can only be attained by education of the public in their duties as roadusers, and by strict enforcement of the laws designed to promote