Safety Campaign In England

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23085, 9 July 1938, Page 12 (Supplement)

Safety Campaign In England

VETERAN MOTORISTS' WISE ENDEAVOUR

"T HAYK received a circular letter from the Company of Veteran Motorists, London, and in passing on some of the contents to your New Zealand readers, may 1 state, as a newcomer, that I have hot come here to try to teach them their business, but, I really think that any serious attempt to reduce the number uf road casualties is worth the utmost publicity in any country where e;irs are so numerous," says Mr. S. A. Hill-Willis, of Titirangi, in a letter received by the Herald. "In its letter, tlif Company of Veteran Motorists states that it knows from its own statistics that, if all motorists would show the saint! care and consideration that the \ eteran Motorist members show to all roadusers. there would a very welcome reduction in road casualties." lie continues. "To prove its theory that the best way to achieve a really useful reduction lies in the cultivation of this care and courtesy by all. it had informed the Minister of Transport that during Whitsuntide, from June 4 to 0 inclusive, it was conducting a special care and courtesy campaign in which it was inviting every motorist, cyclist and pedestrian to co-operate. "The letter states that the company had been most fortunate iu obtaining the blessing of the Minister of Transport for the campaign. In a reply from him to a letter from the chairman of the company. Viscount Klibank. setting out the proposals, the Minister said he need hardly say that any proposal designed to awaken the public conscience on this subject commended itself to him, and the Company of

Veteran Motorists had his sincere good wishes for all possible success for its efforts to secure a reduction in the number of accidents on the roads. "Armed with this send-off, the company invited all sections of the press to publicise the campaign, and requested all members to make it known to all their friends, whether motorists or not. that, on the three days, they were to be part of a huge effort to save life on the roads. The company further issued three yellow notices: Walk. Hide, Drive With Care. Play Your Part. Whitsun,. June -1-6. "One notice members were asked to put on their car at once, and the other two they were asked to distribute to friends who would make use of them. A large poster containing similar wording in colour was also enclosed, with a request that it would be" handed to a members' service station. The company stated that its great ideal was to see a nil return for road casualties over the Whitsun holidays, and though it: was not likely to reach those idealistic heights, it was hoping for a big reduction as a result of the campaign. "Tinaginc their pride if they were able to go to the Minister of Transport with figures to show even a oO per cent, reduction in casualties when all other restrictive efforts have resulted in a negligible improvement, many of which have only antagonised the motorist," Mr. Hill-Willis adds. "The Company of Veteran Motorists, in inviting motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to co-oper-ate in a great national effort to bring home to all road users that care and courtesy not only beget care and courtesy, hut also pay. is, in my opinion, doing a great work."