PERILS OF HIGHWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19718, 18 August 1927, Page 11

PERILS OF HIGHWAYS.

GROWING TOLL OF< MOTOR, REGULATION OF TRAFFIC. STRICTER LAWS ADVOCATED. CARE IN LICENSING DRIVERS. [BY telegraph.-—special reporter.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The opinion that the motor traffic laws should be amended to give reasonable protection to other users of the roads was expressed in a motion passed by the Legislative Council this afternoon. Sir Thomas Mackenzie drew attention to what he described as the great risk pedestrians were constantly exposed to through the reckless driving of motor vehicles, together with the alarming increase in the number of fatal motor accidents. He said the Government Statistician had informed him that the deaths caused by motor accidents in New Zealand in 1923 numbered 59, in 1925 there were 108, or nearly double, and in 1926 they totalled 150. In the LJnited States the havoc wrought by motor accidents caused 34,000 deaths last year.

The figures quoted referred only to' deaths, the number of persons injured being very many more. In Auckland recently 16 cases of reckless driving wore before the Court on one day, and not on a Monday either, and there were 32 minor offences, while in the papers of the same day there were reports of two persons being killed. It was becoming a very serious matter. V Very many of the accidents were due to the carelessness of "motor hogs." In many cities and towns it was highly dangerous to pass across or along tho streets and roads. Motoring and Liquor. Sir Thomas said that in Lambton Quay, Wellington, the lives of elderly persons and of women with children were •constantly endangered. There seemed to.be no regulation of traffic and motor vehicles appeared from all directions, very often without slackening speed or sounding their horns. The roads belonged as much to children as to motor vehicles. The Hon. G. J. Smith : There are footpaths for pedestrians. You have to be careful in crossing streets. Continuing, Sir. Thomas Mackenzie said it was coming to a pretty pass when it was unsafe for children to go to school. The New Zealand Alliance had taken the matter up, rather strongly he thought, in reference to the question of motor drivers and alcoholic liquor. Drastic as was the alliance proposal however, it was not more than was required. There was a great amount of carelessness in issuing licences to drivers, many of whom were constitutionally or temperamentally unfit to exerciso care and safety in driving. It was a singular thing that the taking of a car was notregarded as theft. He suggested that the law should bo amended to provide heavier penalties the taking of cars. Sir Francis Bell's Advice. . The Leader of the Council, Sir Francis Bell, said he was sorry Sir Thomas had suggested only one remedy, that the local authorities should exercise more care in regard to the licensing of drivers. "I can give you a better remedy," he said. "Tho true remedy is to 'strike out the top line. These dangers are nearly all created not by incompetency, but by excitement." Sir Francis suggested Sir Thomas Mackenzie should consider the advisability of taking that course and joining with the many well-known citizens in that movement in the interests of women and children. He was quite serious about the matter.

Sir Francis Bell said many of the dangers in the cities were inevitable and they existed all over the world. He suggested the provision of overhead crossings or subways for the protection of pedestrian traffic. The many accidents that had occurred were largely on country roads, and the cause he had suggested was the principal one. He had risen to suggest what he believed to be the true remedy for a very real source of danger. The Hon. V. H. Reed said it was difficult to see how legislation could keep down the number of accidents. Many motorists were blameworthy, but pedestrians were often guilty of contributory negligence and should exercise more care. Local bodies were not exercising their full powers and were not sufficiently severe on speeding. The punishment for taking cars for "joy riding" was not nearly severe enough. He thought "road hogs" were worst in Taranaki, where they had tar-sealed roads. Many motorists, in passing another car, would not get off the crown of the road until the very last second.