The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, December 6th., 1938. THE MOTORING PROBLEM.

Grey River Argus, 6 December 1938, Page 6

The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, December 6th., 1938. THE MOTORING PROBLEM.

Several of the varied aspects of motoring' have this week come locally into prominence through the meeting here of the South Island Motor Union. For the general public, perhaps, the most important is that of the problem of road safety. The Union is at one with th'e Minister of Transport as to the wisdom of his campaign. The holding of processions, such as that yesterday inaugurated in Wellington, ought yividly to impress the country that the new transport era has placed responsibility on everybody to co-operate in attaining safety. That is to’say, of course,'that no precaution can be neglected, because it is undoubtedly true no thoroughfare in future is likely to be as safe as it was before we became second only to Amerca in our proportion of motor vehicles to population. The motor has won its popularity on its merits. Side by side with the concentration of more population within particular areas, the desire for fast travel and change of scene' have grown, while a

great part of the economic life of modern communities has come to depend upon fast road transport. It is not precisely that older forms of locomotion are lacking, bur that the motor responds better to the wishes and needs of the individual: Yet this vast growth of mechanisation appears to have caused its votaries to ignore the ancient rights or privileges of individuals, and it has been when 1 ' the motorists’ own safety also tended to diminish that a full recognition of their mutual obligations has come about. Yesterday’s conference, among other things, discussed road signs and safety glass, and there appeared to be room for varying views, experb ence having taught that what in one respect may be a precaution is liable in another respect to prove, a risk. Even in the matter of

penalising carelessness or negligence, not to say drunkenness, the motorists themselves are not unanimous. They are able, of course, to see the question from I lie standpoint of the motorist as well as that of the pedestrian, but the authorities cannot for a moment overlook the fact that the temptation to take a risk is greater with 'the motorist than with the pedestrian, because of the fact that the latter is in the greater danger. If the proposal to give week-ends in gaol to offending motorists does not find favour with the. Union, on the score that it might not long be regarded as a serious penalty, the inference is scarcely reassuring. • - It might almost, prompt the conclusion that the ultimate recourse must in sueii eases be' to permanent disqualification. One of the points that

could usefully be reviewed is that of the qualifications of a motorist. Considering the power of the modern car, it is doubtful whether the qualification should remain to the extent it does, simply ability to obtain a machine. The Minister of Transport pardonably draws consolation from the fact that the continued increase in the number of vehicles has not seen a proportionate growth in accidents, but thn fact remains that increase in motors means increase in precautions and restrictions. A good suggestion at yesterday’s conference was that to provide hutments at resorts. These would facilitate holiday travel for many motorists. The motorists’ organisation is doing excellent work, introducing a sense o£ co-operation where it is most essential, and protecting the legitimate interests of car owners generally. But the fact remains that motoring has created a very serious problem, and th-e of that problem depends more than anything else upon the regulation ,whether voluntary or compulsory, of the activity of motorists themselves, rather than the activities of any others.