HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: ROAD SAFETY PRINCIPLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27197, 28 September 1949, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: ROAD SAFETY PRINCIPLES

Educational Campaign Advocated DANGERS TO YOUNG CHILDREN PA WELLINGTON, Sept. 27. In the course of a debate in the House of Representatives to-day on the Estimates for the Transport Department, Mr W. A. Sheat (Oppn., Patea), said the Commissioner of Transport had recently-sug-gested that motorists involved in accidents with children under school age should be deemed guilty of negligence unless they could prove their innocence. That had met an unfavourable reception throughout the country, and the Minister should say if the Government contemplated a change in the present law. He said that in accidents involving very young children the blame was more likely to lie with the parents for allowing their children out on the streets. He suggested a more intensive safety education campaign to make parents aware of their responsibilities. Any attempt to hold motorists blameworthy would be unjust and would cause resentment.

Mr F. Langstone (Ind. Lab., Roskill) said mothers would not thank Mr Sheat for his remarks. Most motorists were careful, but some thought they owned the roads and drove at high speeds in powerful cars. The roads belonged to the people. Did the children have no rights at all?

Mr W. Freer (Govt.. Mt? Albert) He wants to leg-rope them.

Mr Langstone said there was need for the utmost care on the part of those, driving powerful cars, anu safety education should be aimed at reminding these people of their responsibilities. -

Mr J. R. Hanan (Oppn.. Invercargill) said he agreed with the contention that where children were about the highest degree of care was required of a motorist. There had been a tendency in the House to blame parents, but he thought that if a tendency to blame the driver were made a principle of law more care would be exercised and accidents reduced. The Minister of Transport, Mr Hackett, said the department had done its utmost to eliminate reckless driving. Parents might sometimes overlook their responsibility not to let children wander on the roads. Mr E. R. Neale (Oppn., Nelson), speaking as a member of the Road Safety Council, said the council was doing an excellent job, and it intended to prepare other educational films. The trend in the debate seemed to be against the motorist. He thought that a great deal of trouble on the roads was caused by people not being aware of the fact that they were entitled to only half of the road crossing at a time.

Mr Hackett acknowledged the work of the Road Safety Council and the North Island and South Island Automobile Associations and of the Transport Department in educating the public on road safety principles. The vote was passed.