ROAD SAFETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23691, 24 December 1938, Page 12

ROAD SAFETY

HOLIDAY PRECAUTIONS ROAD USERS WARNED AVOIDANCE OF HURRIED JOURNEYS (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Dec. 23. A number of suggestions for holiday motorists were made by the Minister of Transport (Mr R. Semple) in an interview to-day. Mr Semple said 12 days had passed without a fatality on the roads of New Zealand. On the thirteenth day, however, four lives had been lost, three at Opotiki and one at Auckland. Public sympathy would be with the relatives of those who had been so tragically killed. "Although the holiday accidents have started so seriously, the most dangerous periods are still to come," said Mr Semple. "The accident zero hour last year was midnight on Christmas Eve, while the serious accidents started a few hours before midnight. More than 20 bad crashes and five deaths followed midnight. The same thing happened on New Year's Eve, and in the early hours of New Year morning when there were 50 casualties and seven deaths. Similar factors v/ere nresent in many motoring accidents on both occasions, fast travelling combined with overloading, fatigue or alcohol. "Midnight was the deadline for pedestrians also. There were two pedestrian deaths shortly after midnight both on Christmas and New Year's Eve." A feeling of joyous irresponsibility seemed to take possession of all classes of road users about midnight, said Mr Semple. Street crowds were buoyed up with the Christmas spirit, and both town and country celebrated. The worry of the past and the responsibilities of the present were forgotten, and 11 were killed and 60 injured. On country roads, many motorists were trying'to cover long distances after a heavy day's work. Haste, fatigue, and night speeding all took their toll. " To those who will be on the road this or next week-end, I would make one suggestion," said the Minister, " avoid at all costs the necessity for having to hurry. Reads will be congested, both on Friday and Saturday nights. There will be big crowds in country towns, delays will be frequent and the motorist who is trying to cover a long distance will be tempted to take risks. The moral is to start early, both when going and returning, and to avoid hurrying at all times." A second suggestion to motorists was to look out for railway crossings, especially where overhead bridges were in the course of construction. Mr Semple said there would be more trains on the railway lines this week than ever before, and motorists should check every part of their car before setting out for a distant destination. The car should be fit and the driver should be fit before a long journey was undertaken. "Pedestrians should keep out of the way of wheeled traffic," said Mr Semple. "If the range of vision is not masked by a corner, it is wise to walk facing oncoming traffic, that is on the right-hand side of the road. Light coloured clothing is advisable at "night time. Cyclists also have a duty to keep to the left and to ride carefully." . , The Minister made a special appeal to all who would be drinking on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve to keep off the roads. Drunken pedestrians and cyclists were a menace to themselves and to motorists. Intoxicated motorists were a menace to everyone. Mr Semple appealed to all road users to r ow, in their road conduct this week-end. a seasonable wish of goodwill towards men. ______