The Hawera Star. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1924. SAFETY FIRST.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 December 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1924. SAFETY FIRST.

Delivered every evening by 3 o'clock m Hawera Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham. Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waveriey, Mokoia, Whakamara, Oiiangai, Meremere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

The “Safety First” campaign which the Automobile Association has undertaken indicates that the Association, formed a lew weeks ago, is keen that motor traffic accidents in the district shall be avoided as far as possible. The purpose of the Association is to exercise a beneficial control over motor traffic in the district and render good service, not only to motorists, but to the community as a whole. The addresses delivered to the children attending the various schools in the district have, we hope, impressed upon them the need for caution and how serious may be the results of carelessness. Children have often caused anxiety through failure to look out for approaching traffic, and accidents have occurred, in which motorists have been in no way to blame. As seen by the growing importations of motor vehicles, the traffic is likely to increase greatly in the next feu years, and with good roads such as exist in South Taranaki, the tendency to speeding is a natural one. But the greater the traffic the more serious becomes the danger of failure on the part of the motorists and pedestrians to exercise proper care and caution. The rules of the road should he strictly observed and telling the children clearly what the rules are should help them, especially if by any chance they are faced with a difficult traffic situation. The problem of motor traffio is claiming much attention in Old World countries, and campaigns such as that which the ’ocal Automobile Association has undertaken, are receiving keen support. In fin article in a recent issue of the London Spectator, Mr. Evelyn Wrench wrote: “It is true that our motor-caused death-roll is imthing like that- of the United States, huff we must remember that there are more than ton times as many motor vehicles in that country as there are Imre. The fact, remains, however, that, in every part of Great Britain a. large number of accidents are occurring every dav which might he prevented. Let us aimi*; the safety first campaign in Lender. has achieved remarkable results: what m needed is a great nation-wide satofv first campaign, or our road casualizes veil continue to grow bv leaps and bounds. What is the cause of these increasing accidents? Primarily no doubt thev are due to the ever growing number of motor vehicles, to the nar-

rowness of many of our roads ancl to the- carelessness of many pedestrians. But apart from these inevitable causes many accident/each month are due to the careless driving of a large number of motorists*’’ New Zealand has a small population, but she is third on the list of the number of people per motor vehicle in use, and as readers know there are many motor accidents each year. It is the Association’s desire that all its members shall set a good example, and we are sure that the campaign which has been undertaken will do a. great deal of good. As we said in a previous article the motor is a splendid servant, hut a cruel master, but in most instances it only becomes master through carelessness and indifference of a person, who fails to recognise the rules and laws which have been devised for the welfare of the whole community. “Safety First” is an excellent motto for all people using the roads, be they motorists or pedestrians. We think that a word in reference to people riding bicycles on footpaths is needed. We have pointed out the dangers on several occasions in the past, but w© find that the practice continues, senior children attending the schools being the chief offenders. Headmasters will be assisting considerably in the safety first campaign if they point out to the children the dangers of such a practice.