BENEFIT OF TRAINING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 303, 20 November 1934, Page 6

BENEFIT OF TRAINING.

A system to lessen motor accidents has been adopted by the Dutch authorities with excellent results. As part of their training in good citizenship the children are taught the observance of rules and regulations, and before they can become members of a traffic club of high standing they must be trained in traffic regulations and problems. In Amsterdam, recently, 700 children were given traffic tests under the supervision of the police, and 90 per cent, showed the benefits of their training by working out 15 different traffic problems, and making the required trips on their bicycles through the busiest section of the city during its most crowded hours. Motor police accompanied the youthful contestants who received diplomas and badges of the Safe Traffic Club. In Holland a very large proportion of the population travels on bicycles ; in fact, this country heads the list with one bicycle to every three inhabitants. Its congested traffic requires not only the greatest skill and care on the part of drivers, but also the same measure of caution from cyclists. It therefore has started well by training young children, in combining youthful competition and responsibility in citizenship in a manner that has been commended to other countries where modern traffic problems are a source of concern. In the United States, for instance, a 20 per cent, increase in the number of deaths from road accidents has led States and cities, and even smaller towns, to take up a crusade against the hazard of the roads. The National Safety Council lias estimated a loss of life for the year of 35,000 compared with 31,000 in 1933, when 4100 of the victims were school children. The Dutch system, which is much akin to the very valuable instruction given in the primary schools of New Zealand by teachers and officials of automobile clubs, has been commended in the United States to train the children against the dangers that are now inherent in modern traffic.