Safety on the Roads

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 42, 19 February 1938, Page 7

Safety on the Roads

Necessity for Good Vision REQUIREMENTS STRESSED BY OPTICIANS Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Last Night. Agreement with the concern of the Minister of Transport, Hon. R. Semple, with regard to safety on the roads, was expressed at to-day’s conference of the Institute of Opticians. Particularly was this the concern of registered opticians, it was stated, as they were aware of the possibility of an error of judgment arising from improper functions of the eyes. The three most important requirements from the ocular viewpoint of safe vision, it was stated, were: (1) Reasonably good clearness of vision; (2) sensitive appreciation of the objects to the side of the line of vision; (3) accurate judgment of distance as obtained by the stereoscopic sense. The first of these was covered by the present regulations, it was explained, but the last two had not received consideration, although they were regarded with the utmost importance by aviation authorities. The introduction of tests to eliminate the driver who was definitely lacking in those particular senses would undoubtedly bring about a reduction. in the toll of road accidents. It was also pointed out that the vision of many persons depreciated considerably over a few years and, consequently*, it was vital that some system should be adopted whereby every motor driver should have a thorough investigation of these three essentials at regular periods. STIFFER EXAMS FOR DRIVERS MINISTER *S PROPOSALS WELLINGTON, Feb. 18. A meeting of the New Zealand Rsad Safety Council was held to-day, at which the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, outlined the steps taken to improve road safety. He pointed out that there had been a great increase in the number of cars on the road. New Zealand was now the sec-ond-highest motoring country in the world with one car per five of population. Also New Zealand was the only country he knew where road accidents had decreased. The saving of life alon# had justified the Road Council’s exist* ence. He outlined legislation it was proposed to bring down, the effect of which would be stiffen examinations for drivers* licences. This also would empower cities to control drivers’ examinations in certain contiguous boroughs and counties where the examinations were sometimes Inadequate, and the revenue from licences under this scheme would be given to the cities. He stressed the need for more being done to Increase safety on the roacls, and pointed out that the great majority of the Christmas accidents had occurred on narrow country roads. Therefore the complaint that improved highways only made them speedways was not substantiated. There was a greater measure of supervision on the highways. He stressed the importance of increasing that supervision. The council decided that the creation of an executive body in place of the advisory body was unnecessary and inadvisable. There is a big agenda dealing with fill aspects of the safety campaign. ACCIDENT-PRONE CLASSES NEED FOR MEASURES STRESSED WELLINGTON, Last Night. •Special attention was directed toward the record of the motor cyclist, the rental car and the taxi at to-day *s meeting of the New Zealand Road Safety Council. Statistics presented by the Transport Department showed the number of accidents per million miles for various types of vehicles to be: Motor cycles, 11.2; private cars, 3.5; commercial vehicles, 2.1;. taxis, 6.1, service cars ana buses, 1.2; rental cars, 6.1. The figures covered the period from March 15, 1937, to January 31, 1938.

“It is evident that some measures are necessary to deal with the three classes of motor traffic referred to,” said the Commissioner of Transport (Mr. G. L. Laurenson). In connection with motor cyclists, Mr. Laurenson suggested for discussion by the council the introduction of a speed limit of 40 m.p.h. for all motor cycle traffic and the prohibition of pillion riding.

After discussion it was decided to advise motor cyclists that the position had been considered in view of the statistics, and unless there was an improvement, the council would have to give further consideration to the question of recommending the imposition ol a -speed limit and the prohibition ol pillion riding. Referring to rental cars, Mr. Laurenson suggested for discussion, proposals that the vehicles be subject to Government inspection and carry certificates ol fitness as for public vehicles, such as service cars, and that the vehicles be equipped with governors. Mr. M. F. Luckie said that very often the joy-riding element came in.

Mr. Laurenson: We have a lot of suggestions of drink in these rental car accidents, too.

It was decided that a full investigation be made by the department into the rental car question with a view to providing for better control, recommendations to be made to the next meeting of the council. Mr. Laurenson suggested for discussion that special attention be paid to taxis by the traffic enforcement officers, and that the question of revoking taxi licenses for important breaches of the regulations be seriously considered. “It should be appreciated that a considerable factor in bringing about the present unsatisfactory accident recora of taxis is the economic position of the industry,” Mr. Laurenson said. “Owing to many drivers being purely on a com-

mission basis, having no ownership interest in the vehicle, and often subject to intense competition, there are apt to be risks taken in driving and a lack of consideration for other road users. ’ ’