ROAD SAFETY WEEK

Grey River Argus, 6 December 1938, Page 7

ROAD SAFETY WEEK

START AT CAPITAL Minister’s Message [Per Press Association.] ; WELLINGTON, December 5. Safety week was inaugurated at Wellington by the flying of a special pennant-on the Town Hall and a procession of one hundred vehicles. The procession was over a mile long, and it included bands, the fire brigade, ana special Transport Department floats, which are to travel to Auckland, arriving there on Friday afternoon. - The Army also co-operated. In a message, the Minister of Transport, Hon. R. Semple says:—“Thoughout New Zealand, yesterday, we started the celebration :of a Road ■ Safety Week—-a special effort by all local bodies, by all motorists and by all pedestrians, to spread the gospel of care and courtesy on the roads, during ,th a coming Christmas . holidays. ■ • From Christmas to the end of January last, thirty-eight persons were killed and more than eight hundred injured. In' a period of six weeks more than a thousand persons ' were injured on the roads.

If I were to quote from newspapers details of the accidents that happened on the roads' last Christmas ‘holidays, I might unduly" depress readers. 1 might make them feel that accidents were inevitable." Personally, T reiuse to accept this view. I believe that 90 per cent these tragedies can be prevented if we really try to prevent then,. The Christmas and New "Year period is a time for rejoicing.- With improved forms of transport available, the whole of New Zealand Is- now open as a playground. Most "of us will be going somewhere this Christmas to beaches, lakes,.- or mountains. We all want to enjoy ourselves and 1 certainly want to do everything J? can to ensure that everyone has not only a happy holiday, but a safe one. - With large numbers of people travelling, however, with twenty-five thousand more vehicles on the road, and with many new drivers the risk of accident will be greatly increased. I would appeal to all road users to apply the Christmas message of goodwill to men; Let us be more tolerant and' more courteous during the holiday period.

To motorists I can offer the cooperation and assistance of all Government Inspectors. I am sure, also that this assistance will also be forthcoming from all Local Body Inspectors. The Inspectors are on the roadsi to help the motorist and to make the roads safer for all. If any motorist is in difficulty and stops a traffic Inspector, he will receive courteous treatment and sound advice; _ The men will be in uniform and' will be easily recognisable. I am arranging for them to carry specially illuminated signs to indicate their presence at night-time. ''• ’ As regards the Safety Week, T have received the greatest assistance from public and private organisations and the press throughout New-'Zealand; and I want to offer them’ the thanks of the whole community. I feel that this Safety Week will have succeeded if it does no' more than make people appreciate the necessity for care and courtesy bn’ the roads, especially : dtir* ing the approaching Christmas period. No one wants, immediately after Christmas, to have to read a long list of traffic tragedies. I hope we shall have practically a clean sheet. I know that <*an keep tragedy from the roads if we all do oiir bit bv walking sensibly and driving safe-

ly. ' ' The true spirit of democracy is the co-operation of all of the people for the good of all of the people. It should not be necessary to regiment, to instruct, and to regulate in every detail, the habits of motorists. The idea of the road safety campaign Is freedom from restriction, provided dll road users co-operate, with care and courtesy. Every road user'must realise his responsibility ' for his own safety and for that of the traffic in which he moves. Regulation and control may simplify and clarify this responsibility but cannot remove it? It Is a responsibility that calls for constant vigilance: it requires knowledge of the rules of the road; it demands habitual and careful obedience to them. These are three elementary obligations, yet they are commonly neglected 'and commonly, .the' neglect Is a cause of accident, injury, and death. Some road users are'blind; some are ignorant; some are - lawless; some 1 are wilful. If the road safety week impresses these, it will more than have succeeded in its propose. And I would make one very special appeal. If you want to drink' on Christmas' or New Year’s Eve keep off the street and keep out of your caxt An intoxicated pedestrian Is a menace both to himself and to other road users. The motorist who drives after drinking,' may be signing somebody’s death-warrant. ' ’'=■ Take the opportunity during the next week to learn the rules of the road. Preach road safety, and practise -what you preach. Remember that'ln the last analysis there is only one' rule for safety on -the road —think. Make your motto during ► the approaching holiday period—l shall walk sensibly. I shall drive safely.

Necessity For Caution MOTORISTS’ DECISION. At - the quarterly meeting of the South Island Motor Union yesterday, Mr J. S. Hawkes (Canterbury) said that the holiday season was. approaching, and the Union ! should issue an appeal to all motorists to drive reasonably, safely, and carefully, during the Christmas holidays. The greatest care was needed to keep down the ratio of accidents.'- "' ' - ' v Mr A. Grayson (N.1.M.U.) said that the president of each North Island association would shortly issue an appeal to motorists to take- care during; the holidays.- This had proved most effective in the past. ; ;■ ■’ .'M It was decided to adopt the North Island proposal, and to request ail presidents to issue an appeal before Christmas. The use of radio as well as the press was suggested.