SAFETY OF THE ROADS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22716, 31 October 1935, Page 6

SAFETY OF THE ROADS

DISCUSSION BY MOTORISTS DEFINITE CAMPAIGN FAVOURED (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 30. Appeals to motorists to contribute to the "safety first" ideal were made at the annual meeting of the Automobile Association. Sir Alexander Roberts said he was a consistent' traveller on the road, and had come to the conclusion that there was often greater danger created bv slow driving than by fast driving. He maintained that drivers on roads which are not too wide should study those who followed them. He did mt come across many instances of what he called excessive speeding. Mr E. A. Batt did not agree with Sir Alexander, and said the more- perfect the road the greater the number of accidents. In his opinion, speed on the best highways was the cause of the greatest number of accidents. "It appears we must have speed," said Mr Batt, "but if it goes on, I am afraid the carnage on the road will increase to such an extent that irksome regulations will become inevitable. If we are not careful as individual motorists the Government will be compelled to bring in such drastic regulations that there will be no pleasure in motoring.' Mr Batt added that if something were not done at once, the onus would be on the Government. He considered that the Government should contribute to the setting up of a national "safety first" council. It was futile to build marvellous roads if the present death rate were allowed to continue. For the first six months of the present year nearly -100 were killed, and the figures were going up very rapidly. Mr A. J. Toogood said the slow driver created the fast driver in certain circumstances, and the man who dawdled along at 20 miles an hour was ' a positive menace.