SAFER ROADS

Grey River Argus, 27 May 1938, Page 9

SAFER ROADS

PROGRESS IN N.Z.

Accident Rate Reduced

[Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 26.

Reviewing progress made on the roads of New Zealand when presiding over a meeting of the Road Safety Council to-day, the Minister of Transport, Hon R. Semple, quoted figures to show that while motor transport in the Dominion had increased by approximately 30 per cent, during the last nineteen months, the accident rate had not increased. This represented a great increase in road safety and, in addition, a marked improvement in road courtesy could be observed throughout the country. New Zealand was the second highest motorised country in the world. It had the lowest death rate on the roads, and it was probably the only country- that had shown a reduction in accidents. Transport regulations had been enforced, the Minister continued, and accident statistics were kept so that the danger spots could be located. Traffic control had been unified, and all motor vehicles were now subject to periodical inspections and offenders were punished. During the past year there had been a total of 3849 convictions and fines totalling £6664 had been imposed. ROAD IMPROVEMENT. Apart from the Council and the Department. said the Minister, the Public Works Department had done a great deal towards road safety. The basis of any road safety campaign was a proper roading system. It was not right to chastise drivers for accidents caused by bad roads. Every country in the world was faced with the promleb of roads that were unsuitable for modern transport, and those roads had to be made safe. It had been said that his Department was making roads into speedways, but that was ridiculous. Transport had changed and roads had to be changed accordingly. The Minister said that he had received messages of appreciation from all over New Zealand and practically all of the newspapers had congratulated the Road Safety Council on its work. A few papers had made it a political issue, and he expressed strong disapproval of such action.

The Council decided to postpone action on the proposal to impose a special speed limit on motor-cycles, and prohibit pillion riding.