SAFETY OF THE ROADS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23369, 8 December 1937, Page 10

SAFETY OF THE ROADS

CONTROL OF MOTOR TRAFFIC MINISTER'S DETERMINATION REDUCING THE ACCIDENT RATE (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Dec. 7. The determination of the Government to get results from its campaign for road safety was expressed by the Minister of Transport (Mr R. Semple) during consideration in the House of Representatives tonight of the Supplementary Estimates for the Transport Depart-" ment. Various items in the departmental vote were queried by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr A. Hamilton). Some proof should be given, he said, that value was being obtained for the money spent. If the expenditure on safety measures really resulted in the promotion of a greater degree of safety there could be no quarrel with the votes, even if they were twice as high, but it was only reasonable to examine the results from time to time. A Steady Improvement "The Leader of the Opposition is quite entitled to ask whether we are getting results," Mr Semple said. "I can assure him that we are. The Transport Department is compiling complete statistics and these show a steady improvement in the position as a whole. We are a long way off our goal yet. but we are progressing. "When we made our first examination for the purpose of issuing warrants of fitness," the Minister continued, "it was found that 75 per cent, of the motor vehicles inspected did not measure up to the required standard. That is one direction in which we have promoted greater safety. Then there is our general propaganda and educational work. The best proof that it is succeeding lies in the fact that notwithstanding an increase of 40 per cent, in the number of motor vehicles in New Zealand, last year the fatal accidents were reduced by 25 per cent. If no action had been taken then, on the law of averages 74 people would have been killed on the roads of this country lasl year instead of 30. I can say with every degree of certainty that the action we have taken has been effective in reducing the number of fatal accidents, but we want cooperation from all sides in reducing the figure still further." Main Cause of Accidents

Mr J. A. Roy (Opposition, Clutha) said it appeared to him that excessive speed was the cause of the greatest number of accidents. Cars were going on the roads capable of speeds up to 120 miles an hour, and ir the hands of irresponsible persons they were simply engines of destruction. Some of those high-powered cars should be governed down to prevent excessive .speed. Mr Semple said that when Parliament resumed after the recess a Bill would be introduced giving the Transport Department control of all road traffic except in towns with populations of over 6000. Every effort would be made to patrol the roads with fully qualified inspectors, whose job it would be to educate motorists into an appreciation of safety measures and good driving. As for speeding as the cause of accidents, statistics showed that it was responsible for about 20 per cent, of the road mishaps. Mr S. G. Holland (Opposition. Christchurch North): They all say they were doing 30 miles an hour, don't they? Mr Semple repeated that the only way to stop speeding was to have i staff of competent inspectors on the roads. ,