SAFETY ON ROADS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23029, 5 May 1938, Page 19

SAFETY ON ROADS

MOTORISTS AND LIQUOR TOTAL ABSTINENCE URGED • That at least 78 persons were killed last year in road accidents due to alcoholic . liquor, . wjis alleged at a meeting' of the Auckland Council of Temperance Education. Mr. L. S. Falkner stated that in Sweden and other countries where the blood test was applied to all persons involved in motor accidents, it was found that up to 40 per cent were due to . the influence of liquor on either driver or pedestrian. In New Zealand, during the year ended March 31, 236 persons were killed in road accidents, and. of these he claimed that at least 33 1-3 per cent were killed as a result of intoxication on 'the part of drivers or pedestrians. Cases of arrest ' for driving while under tho influence of liquor were increasing and. unless motorists undertook voluntarily to abstain from liquor legislation would be necessary to compel them to do so when about to drive or while driving. Fines had not reduced tlie number of arrests and more drastic steps would hare to be taken. The council had written to the Minister of Transport urging that all applicants for driver's licences should be required to sign a,declaration that they would not take intoxicating liquor shortly before or when driving, Mr. Falkner said. The Minister had also been'asked to have warning signs erected on all highways throughout the Dominion. On the suggestion of Mr. A. Prosser it was decided to ask the co-operation of the Auckland Automobile Association in securing safety on the highways.