Take Care This Easter

Northern Advocate, 3 April 1947, Page 3

Take Care This Easter

Urge Motorists To

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. An appeal to motorists using the roads over the Easter holiday period 1o exercise caution and refrain from speeding and careless driving was made by the Minister of Transport (Mr O’Brien).

He said the usual volume of Easter traffic was likely to be swollen this year by extra trucks and other vehicles using highways as the result of the railway restrictions.

“Heavy concentrations of road traffic are expected at Easter,” said the Minister.

“A large number of people usually make the long Easter week-end the occasion for a trip away from home. “Nearly all the cars in New Zealand, and there are some 200,000 of them, are out on the road somewhere during this brief space.

“Many people are undertaking rather long trips, and in order to make the most of their time are often in a great hurry. TENDENCY TO SPEED

“There is a tendency to speed to cut corners and to take chances. “To these I would say there is no place on the highways where it is safe to take a chance. This is especially so at holiday time. “The safe driver will keep his speed down, keep strictly to the left and watch out for other traffic. He will also take extra care at night when visibility is poor.

“Only in this way will he safeguard the lives of the party in his own car and others on the road.” Mr O’Brien said motorists should remember that while the traffic inspectors wished to assist drivers to keep traffic running smoothly and safely their main duty was to prevent dangerous driving and speeding.

They were instructed to deal harshly with offenders. The desire of the Transport Department was to make the roads safe for users and with a little cooperation that could be done.

22 Road Deaths

During March

(P.A.) WELLINGTON. This Day, Twenty-two deaths resulted from motor accidents on the roads of New Zealand during March, according to reports received by the Transport Department. This is the highest monthly figure since last August, when 24' people were killed.

The death roll for the first quarter of 1947 was 44, compared with 50 in the first three months of last year. “Fourteen of the 22 accidents occurred after dark, 13 accidents happened between 4 p.m. on Saturday and 4 a.m. on Sunday as against nine during the rest of the week.” said the Commissioner of Transport (Mr G. L. Laurenson) yesterday. “It is thought that the lack of seeing ability at night due to dazzle and out-driving headlights has a great deal to do with the prevalence of night accidents. Five motor cyclists were killed during the month. Accidents among motor cyclists have once more become a very serious problem. “Full particulars are not yet available as to the circumstances of all the accidents where the riders were killed, but traffic officers are reporting numerous cases of reckless and foolhardy riding by a considerable section of young motor cyclists. “I am instructing Departmental traffic inspectors to take to courr every case of a flagrant breach, to put the facts before the bench, and to seek the cancellation of the motor rider’s licence where his conduct has proved him to bp a menace on the road ”