A GOOD RECORD

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 11

A GOOD RECORD

EFFECT OF THE SAFETY

CAMPAIGN

The flag on the Town Hall was hoisted after the first National Road Safety Campaign had been opened. Of the four centres, Dunedin alone still has the flag flying, Christchurch and Auckland flags having to be lowered comparatively early in the safety campaign. Wellington has gopd cause to be proud of its record owing to the care taken by motorists in probably the most traffic-congested city in the Dominion. There is no doubt that the care taken by motorists has greatly increased since the campaign was started. There were fewer cases of bad driving, the traffic officers say, and there was evidence that motorists were taking more care in regard to the watch on other motorists' movements, and also were learning to make allowances for each other's - positions ,on the road and at intersections. There were instances where drivers with awkward loads met, the wishes of traffic officers with regard to the time of day they should travel, and the spirit of co-operation to secure the objects of the campaign was evident in all motorists. It had been the intention to pull, the flag down tomorrow. It will not be re-erected. It was merely a tattered rag when it came down today. It suffered perhaps the windiest period in the city's history, and stood up to it remarkably well, though it was becoming very hard to see. Not a little of the success of the local campaign was due to the manner in which the traffic officers encouraged motorists to play their part. No doubt the publicity given the effort assisted, but it was the friendly way in which the traffic officers made the effort a joint one of guardian and driver that kept "the .flag''up. ' Reports received from country traffic inspectors show that the effect of the campaign in the centres greatly increased care throughout. ,