ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 May 1938, Page 7

ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN

MINISTER AND MOTOR CYCLISTS. [PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION. ) WELLINGTON, May 25. Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Transport, stated (o-day; “We cannot get that measure of protection needed tor the travelling public and for pedestrians unless every one regards the road safety campaign as his campaign.” The Minister was expressing his appreciation of motor-cyclists in making an offer to co-operate in every way in the efforts being made to increase road safety. A deputation representing the New Zealand Autocycle Union, waited on Mr Semple and submitted suggestions that, had' been drawn up by the Union’s Christchurch committee, which included one for an honorarj* road patrol. The Minister, in replying, impressed on them that something had to be done in regard to the motor-cyclists. He quoted the recent statistics as to accidents to motor-cyclists. He said that. he considered that 90 per cent, of the accidents on the roads of the Dominion were preventable, and were due to the human clement. He would be glad to allow the motor-cyclist organisations lime to prepare a scheme.

The Minister stated that during the period from March 15, 1937, to Marell, 31. 1935, twenty-six motor-cyclists and two pillion riders were killed, while 177 motor-cyclists and thirtysix pillion riders were seriously injured. In addition, 40G moior-cyclists and 115 pillion riders received minor injuries. The total number of motor vehicles on the road was 1100.000, of which number 26.0(10 were motorcycles. ’rhe proportion of accidents was high. a fundamental cause of these accidents was either disregard lor the rules of the road, or sheer ignorance. As far as motor-cycles were concerned, ho thought that most of these accidents happened to young men. In one week-end six motorcyclists had been killed, most of (hem young men. These youths bought a motor-cycle, had not the faintest, idea of the dangers of the road,, got the speed craze, and away they went! They had not the faimost idea of the destructive agency of the machine they rode. Then* were 100 many people being killed on the roads in New Zealand, and he would be glad of Hie co-operation of the motorcycle organisations to improve the position. He doubted whether there was any other country in a similar position to our own. We had an increase of 30 per cent, in the number of vehicles with no increase in the number of accidents.