DANGER ON HIGHWAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22675, 12 March 1937, Page 5

DANGER ON HIGHWAYS

FATAL TOLL OF MOTORS J NEW SOUTH WALES CONCERN Transport organisations and the public of New South Wales are viewing with alarm a recent announcement that 539 fatal accidents occurred on the highways of the State last year. This is a substantial increase on the figures for 1935, and is apart from the vast number of accidents which did not end fatally. There is general agreement that the problem must be attacked courageously and scientifically. The Minister of Transport, Mr. JBruxner, who is also deputy-Premier, frankly said ho was afraid that, if the road accident figures increased at their present alarming rate in New South Wales, a fear psychology might be set up, with damaging elfects on the transport industries themselves. The proposal of the Road Safety Conference —a permanent body —that speed limits of 30 and GO miles an hour should bo decreed for built-up and rural areas, respectively, is opposed in many quarters, on the ground, mainly, that existing regulations provide the police with all the power necessary to stamp out road hogs. The point is emphasised that it is obviously undesirable for motorists fearfid of committing traffic breaches to be continually watching their speedometers instead of keeping their eyes on the road.