ROAD SAFETY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23302, 22 March 1939, Page 16

ROAD SAFETY

THE MOTOR-CYCLE RIDERS SUGGEST RULES CATERING FOR BEGINNERS [HY TELEGRAPH—I'KESS ASSOCIATION] DUNEDIX, Tuesday A meeting of members of the motorcycle section of the Automobile Association of Oiago last evening, over which Mr, A. G, Schofield, chairman of the section, presided, discussed with Mr. A. T. C. Chorlton, publicity officer to the Department of Transport, means by which the motor-cycle traffic of New Zealand could be made more sale. Mr. Chorlton has had similar discussions with representatives of motorcyclists in most centres throughout the Dominion with a view of obtaining first-hand recommendations for consideration by the Road Safety Council for incorporation in legislation designed to bring about a reduction in the accident rate.

Recommendations which this meeting adopted, he stated, indicated the form which it was likely the proposed legislation would take. They were as follows: —That the system of issuing licences to motor-cyclists throughout the New Zealand should be made uniform; that there should he strict enforcement of the regulations applying to built-up areas; and that L plates and licences should be issued to beginners on their passing a test covering the road code and regulations, eyesight, health, and an elementary knowledge of the machine. It was further recommended that the L plate should be carried for a period of three months, and that motor-cyclists driving with L licences should be restricted to a speed of 35 miles an hour and should not be allowed to carrv pillion-riders. Offenders against the regulations, it was suggested, should be required to have their licence plates for specified periods, according to the discretion of magistrates. The meeting recommended that motor-cyclists carrying pillion-riders should be limited to a speed of 45 miles an hour.

THE TOLL OF LIFE REVIEW BY MINISTER JANUARY FIGURES FALL INFLUENCE OF SAFETY WEEK [BY TELEGRAPH —I'KESS ASSOCIATIONI DUNEDIN, Tuesday Fatal road accidents in New Zealand fell to a total of 11 in January last. This drop from 10 in the previous month is attributed to the influence of Road Safety Week observed throughout New Zealand during December. Figures released to-day by the .Minister of Transport, the Hon. 1?. Semple, show that for the period from August. 11)38, to February, 1939, the monthly totals of fatal accidents are. with the sole exception of February, lower than thi 1 earlier months of the statistical year. The December-January fatality figure, in fact, was the lowest recorded since such statistics have been compiled. A reduction of more than 200 eases of injury was noted in the 10 weeks following Hoad Safety A\eek. Mr. Semple announced that the cost of Road Safety Week was less than £*2ooo. On an actuarial basis, the saving in human life during the period following this campaign was £25,000,. and this figure represented a reduction in fatalities only. The loss through casualties and property damage would add considerably to the figure. After January's small total of 11 lives lost, the February figure rose sharply to 21. The review of the halfvcar, in explaining this, points out that a set sum was apportioned for road safety expenditure up to March 31. This sum was practically exhausted by the Road Safety Week demonstration. Bv the end of January the fund had all been used and publicity had to be relaxed. The immediate result was an increase in the number of fatal accidents, which in February were almost double the number in January, in spite of the density of holiday traffic in the earlier month. Christehurch has the unenviable position of being the scene of most accidents. During the past six months the number of fatalities in the Christehurch metropolitan built-up area was eight. Wellington followed with seven, then I) lined in with three and Hamilton with two.