ALCOHOL AND MOTORISTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 5, 6 July 1939, Page 8

ALCOHOL AND MOTORISTS

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I have read with interest the luke-warm reception accorded the proposal "that no person should drive a motor-car within half an hour after Irinking alcohol" by the executive of the Wellington Automobile Association at a recent meeting. As a member of the association I fully expect the executive to be wholehearted in its support of any attempt to restrict the driving of motor-cars by persons who had been indulging in alcoholic liquors. After all. the question of enforcement of the law is a matter for the Police Department, and the fact that the Commissioner of Police supports the prooosal surely indicates that he believes if possible of enforcement. It has been proved beyond a shadow of doubt that the drinking of any alcoholic liquor when driving a modern car or at anytime immediately prior to driving is definitely dangerous. This new proposal is an attempt to deal with those people who will not recognise this danger but will satisfy their personal appetites and desires at all costs, even if it be at the cost of a human life.

Let the Wellington Automobile Association offer a constructive alternative to the present proposal—if it can't do that., then, I spy, the Transport Department is entitled to expect its loyal support of the present proposal. The chairman of the executive is reported

as saying, **I tnink we have shown for a good many years that we have no sympathy with the drunken driver." Well, sir, I can see no great merit in that particular attitude—it is just plain common sense and an attitude that should be adopted by, the association and approved of by all decent citizens. What is needed on this subject of alcohol and motor-car driving is leadership from the association such as that given by the Minister of Transport. Let the association declare itself and state that no alcohol should be taken while driving a motor-car or immediately prior to driving, and it will receive the approbation of all de-cent-thinking citizens.—l am, etc.,

NATHAN R. SEDDON,