ROAD SAFETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25962, 1 October 1945, Page 6

ROAD SAFETY

THE TESTING SYSTEM NEED FOR UNIFORMITY The main matters discussed at the recent meeting of the New Zealand Road Safety Council were the testing of motor drivers and of the vehicles. “ More than 50 per cent, of all accidents are directly attributable to the drivers of motor vehicles,” stated _ a departmental report. “It is essential that an adequate and uniform system of testing be adopted. At present all road controlling authorities are responsible for the issuing of drivers’ licences, and, while in a large number of cases the tests are carried out by Government traffic inspectors and wellqualified men, the present system is anything but satisfactory. “Each local authority has its own system, arranges for the printing of the forms, and the issuing and recording of the licences. There are varying standards of testing applicants, and a frequent weakness is that in a number of cases insufficient attention is paid to the applicant’s knowledge of traffic laws. With some 300 separate issuing authorities and 300 separate registers of ’ licences, it is extremely difficult to check up on drivers whose licences have been cancelled or endorsed. The British Road Safety Committee recommends in its report that driving tests should be made more searching.” Questions for Applicants

It was emphasised by the Commissioner of Transport (Mr G. L. Laurenson) that the persons appointed for testing drivers should be in impartial, independent positions. They should be employees of the Government or local authorities.

The following resolution was adopted:—“ (1) There should be a central register, which would mean that duplicates of local records would have to be sent in by each of the licensing authorities. (2) The form of application for a licence should contain these questions, to be answered truthfully: ‘Have you been refused a licence by any local authority or traffic officer? ’ ‘ Has your previous licence been endorsed or cancelled? ' (3) Testing officers, other than those employed by the department, to be approved by the department; such testing officers not to include, except in cases of special dispensation by the department, any person who is not an employee of the licensing authority.”

The commissioner said it was estimated that 100,000 of New Zealand’s motor cars—about half of the total — had been in use for 10 years or more. It was particularly important now that warrants of fitness should be subject to thoroughly reliable testing. Some time ago the department had recommended the principal local authorities to set up properly-equipped testing stations, but to date there were only three such stations—at Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wanganui. If stations were established in all the cities and principal provincial' towns they would serve about 75 per cent, of the motor vehicles. Other arrangements could be made for the outlying areas.

Mr J. S. Hawkes (representative of the South Island Motor Union) referred to the satisfactory operation of the Christchurch station. It was also a great protection for buyers of secondhand cars, he said, for these had to carry a certificate of fitness from the testing station. Mr F. C. Spratt (representative of the general public) said he thought that the general establishment of stations would give public confidence. They would keep unroadworthy vehicles off the roads.

The council approved the principle of publicly-owned testing stations, subject to suitable modifications in outlying areas. It was agreed that the period of warrants of fitness for private cars should continue to be 12 months (instead of the normal six months) until the restrictions on petrol were removed.

The question of testing tyres was raised, but it was agreed that because of the present scarcity of new tyres and rubber for retreading, it was not practicable to bring tyres into warrants of fitness for cars. Traffic Control

The department reported that there were Government traffic inspectors in all rural areas and about 80 boroughs and town districts. In the remainder of the boroughs and town districts, and in the four main cities there were local body traffic inspectors. General assistance was given by the police throughout the Dominion.

The need of uniformity of control and procedure was stressed. The commissioners of transport and police (Mr J. Cumming) undertook to report to the next meeting of the council. Miss M. Magill (women’s representative) said some motorists had an impression that they were subject to too much watching and guarding. They thought that they should get warnings instead of prosecution.

The commissioner quoted figures to show that the authorities adopted a reasonable attitude towards motorists. He said that about 90 per cent, were law-abiding, and responded satisfactorily to warnings. It was mentioned that the paint on several important pedestrian crossings in Wellington was so blurred that the marking was practically invisible to motorists and pedestrians. It was decided to request local authorities to keep the crossings regularly marked to ensure that they would be easily visible. The Human Factor A departmental report mentioned that during the five-year period, 194044, there was a total of 12,136 accidents, of which 10,739, or nearly 90 per cent., were judged to be due to error by the road user. These erring users included 6976 motor drivers, 1473 motor cyclists, 91 bicyclists, and 2290 pedestrians. It was considered that an active campaign for road safety should be again undertaken. The council decided to recommend the Minister of Transport (Mr J. O'Brien) to agree to the appointment of a full-time publicity officer and the provision of an adequate sum for ail extensive road-safety campaign. The officer’s duties would include the coordination of publicity activities of all organisations concerned. It was remarked by Mr Spratt, in support of an effective campaign, that the economic value of an average life was estimated at £2OOO. As an indication of the good results of educative work on road safety the commissioner remarked that school children were better users of the roads than adults.

Miss Magill said she wished to compliment the Transport Department on its good work and on the illuminating reports which enabled members of the council to get a dear, accurate view of the whole position.