THE MOTOR VEHICLES AMENDMENT BILL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 149, 9 June 1936, Page 9

THE MOTOR VEHICLES AMENDMENT BILL

Control of Traffic ROAD CASUALTIES More Die by Accident Than by War MINISTER’S OBJECTS By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, Jnne 8. In moving the second reading of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill in the House of Represent*tires to-day, the Hon. R. Semple said ha thought both sides of the House would agree that it was time traffic control was reviewed. He said that during the last seven years 1250 persons had been killed in New Zealand and 35,000 injured in vehicular accidents; in other words, if all the persons injured in that period were put in hospital together they would occupy half the existing accommodation in all the hospitals in New Zealand. During the last 13 years casualties on the highways had exceeded those of the New Zealand forces during the war. Putting it in another way, one child n four was liable to be injured on the highways. It was not proposed to take the committee stages of the Bill at once, but after it had been read the second time a copy of the bill would be seut to all local authorities and persons concerned so that the Government could obtain helpful suggestions from them during the live weeks the House would be in recess, and when the session resumed they would be able to go ahead. A measure of that kind, said the Minister, was urgently necessary, as ■ luring the last few months the num ber of vehicles on the road had it. creased at the rate of approximately So • day. It was a rather bigger problem than it was six months ago, and was growing every day. By-laws and regulations that suited a year or two ago were out of date to-day. The 303 local authorities in New Zealand had th* right to make their own regulations, and tho Government wanted to make a set of rules that would goven traffic from North Cape to the BluS. Referring to control of cycles, Mr Semple said it was contended that a bieyclo was not a dangerous vehicle, but of 254 claims for motor insurance 128 were from cyclists, and in 50 per ee«t of the accidents that occurred tn Christchurch cyclists were involved. HIT-AND-RUN OFFENCE. Mr Semple mentioned the hit-and-run motorist. That type of offence, he said, on the increase. Only the previous night two such cases had occurred in the vicinity of Wellington. Such offences caused a tremendous amount of trouble to the police. A man of that type was not fit to be on the road, and medical information showed that in many eases an injured person, if he were picked up and taken to the nearest hospital, would recover. He was determined to get after the hit-and-run motorist. Of persons killed last year 25 were children unde* 14 years of age. That meant that they had to carry out a good deal of educational work in schools and elsewhere. He hoped that members would give the matter urgent consideration during the reeess and discuss it with local authorities, so that, when the House resumed, any of thel clauses could be amended if it was thought desirable in order to give them a proper system of control. It was not necessary to kill the number of persons who were killed, and he sought the co-operation of every member and everybody else also to secure proper control of traffic in New Zealand.

OPPOSITION HELP. The Kt. Hon. J. G. Coates said he was almost staggered by the speech just delivered by Mr Semple. What had come over Parliament House? Why that extraordinary tone of reasonableness and search for co-opera-tion? He wondered what was behind it all. He could see that Mr Semple wanted to become the Hore-Belisha of New Zealand. The Minister’s attempt to try to amend the Motor Vehicles Act in a way calculated to assist the safety and proper control of road traffic was to be admired. Just how far they would get was another story, and the Opposition would assist tu-i Minister in every way. He thought that the matter should bo taken up thoroughly in schools He referred to the general road courtesy that existed in England, and said that much depeuded on the drivers themselves. He considered that great care should be used in the examination of drivers on application for licences, and also in the examination of vehicles. The Bill was based on the English Act, which seemed to bo working satisfactorily in England. He held that there was a respond bility on people who crossed the street as well as on the motorist. He did net believe in everybody being put on (be defence. In hit-and-race cases, he said, the evidence ehould be clear and definite. He thought that difficulty would be experienced in controlling the cyclist, and it remained to be seen how far they would get. He thought that there would be some fun in it. He agreed that there were too many accidents involving cyclists, and he thought that possibly cyclists had become somewhat careless; but he did not want to see anything done that would discourage interest in cycling. WORD FOR PEDESTRIANS. Mr J. A. Lee (Govt., Grey Lynn), said he wanted to say a word for the pedestrian. He said that for some uncanny reason motorists seemed to be unconscious of the pedestrian. The pedestrian seemed to be expected, every time he stepped on to the road, to look round to see if a motor-car was approaching. There was a tendency on the part of the human family to dream a little, and there was a certain onus on the motorist to avoid the pedestrian. He thought that pedestrians' rights should be protected a little more; the pedestrian should not have to regard the motorist as the emperor of the road every time he stepped off a footpath. He thought that the Bill contained much that was worth while and that the House and the public would congratulate the Minister on bringing it forward and on bis desire, before putting the Bill through, to give all sections of the people an opportunity to express opinions on it. Mr W. A. Bodkin (Nat., Central Otago) thought that the Bill was a good one, and in the main he approved of it. He did not think that the penalties for intoxicated motorists or for hit-and-run motorists were in any way too high. He thought that evidence be letter or affidavit should be accepted only in cases where the defendant lived more than 50 miles from the Court where the case was heard except under special circumstances. INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS. Mr E. L. Cullen (Govt, Hawke’s Bay) said that a certain amount of instruction was given in schools on the crossing of roads, and he thought that it should be extended. He contended that cyclists had a right to the road as well as motorists. He thought that the Minister would have to consider seriously the provision of cyclists’ tracks in urban areas. Mr G. Hargest (Nat., Awarua) urged some control of pedestrians crossing crowded streets. He said that New Zealand was a long way behind other countries in the control of pedestrians. He thought it was education of both the pedestrian and the motorist that was most wanted. He said that level

crossings and high hedges at corners were factors iu road accidents. Mr A. F. Moncur (Govt., Rotorua; did not agree that a set speed of 30 miles an hour in city and borough areas was reasonable at all times. He thought that the actual speed should not be mentioned but that it should be left to competent officers to say what was a dangerous speed. Mr J. A. Roy (Nat., Clutha) said his experience was that between 30 and 40 miles an hour was the best cruising speed of a ear, and he would not allow any car to go faster than 40 miles an hour unless it belonged to a doctor. More care should be taken in the issue of drivers’ licences. Mr Roy said that children should be taught how to cross streets and to watch for motor traffic. SPEED REGULATIONS. Mr. J. Robertson (Govt,, .Masterton) said that traffic development had made it necessary to have the traffic regulations overhauled. Ho thought it was not possible to make a hard-and-fast rule regarding speed. Under certain conditions speeding at 30 miles an hour would be dangerous. He thought that some provision should be made for a, periodical inspection of ears and that drivers should have to produce certificates of mechanical fitness. Mr. 11. G. Dickie (Nat., Patea) said that in order to minimise risks to pedestrians they should be made to walk on the right-hand side of the road so that they would face oncoming traffic. He urged a bigger penalty ior persons convicted of car-conversion. Mr. T. H. McCombs (Govt., Lyttelton) said that more educational efforts should be made. He said that iu America it was the practice to send drivers responsible for an accident to a school of traffic instruction. Mr. S. G. Holland Nat., Christchurch North) said that much could be done in New Zealand iu educating the public up to its responsibilities. The regulations today were designed to penalise offenders, but they should be designed to increase safety. Mr. H. E. Herring (Govt., MidCanterbury) urged, that greater attention should be paid to the rules of the road and that he speed of cars should be mechanically governed to a maximum of 45 miles an hour. He also thought that more attention should be paid to the adjustment of headlights. Mr. K Holyoake (Nat., Motueka) said that the Minister was to be congratulated on the higher penalties to be inflicted on hit-and-run motorists. He urged the abolition o,f obscure corners. The debate was adjourned. The Speaker announced that it was intended to broadcast the first six speakers on the second reading of the Broadcasting Bill tit 7.30 to-morrow, but if ihe exigencies of Parliamentary business meant opening the debate iu the afternoon there would be no evening broadcast. , Ihe House rose at 10.30.