Safely of the Travelling Public

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 175, 27 July 1935, Page 4

Safely of the Travelling Public

TIGHTENING OP BY-LAWS AND REGULATIONS URGED

The necessity for the tightening of all by-laws and regulations concerning the safety of the travelling public was urged in a letter from the Manawatu and District Honorary Justices’ Association which came before the committee of the Automobile Association (Manawatu) last night, and au invitation was extended to the assotion to join in representations that were being made to the Ministers for Justice and Transport.

The letter read was as follows: — “In view of the alarming increase in the number of deaths and injuries on the public highways, we respectfully urge the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Transport to direct that all by-laws and regulations concerning the safety of the travelling public should be immediately enforced. The present omission of any such action until after a fatal or a serious accident occurs is the main cause of disregard of the law by many otherwise icarcful drivers, and is tending to firing ail such laws into contempt.

“The immediate cause of nearly •every such accident is ignorance of or .neglect to observe one or more of the existing by-laws regarding: (a) Speed at intersections and in town areas; (b) Winding headlights; (c) lorries and buses without mechanical signals; ■(d) defective brakes; (e) carelessness of cyclists and pedestrians in regard ito traffic regulations; (f) uncertainty .as to whether the police or the civic authorities should control tho traffic or prosecute.” The chairman (Mr N. H. Mackie) said he had noticed that a deputation had already waited on the Ministers. However, it would do no harm to support the association.

It was pointed out by H. E. Edmunds that it had been on these lines that tho Automobile Association had been working for some time past. It was decided to advise the Justices’ Association that it had the support of the Automobile Association.