TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19138, 6 October 1936, Page 9

TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

AMERICAN METHODS EDUCATION A 1 j COURSES In view of the often reiterated intention of the Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Transport, to reduce the number of traffic accidents, the policy followed by automobile associations in America makes interesting reading. ’ A statement of (he view of those bodies on road safety and the Dost way of ensuring it was made by Mr. Samuel Brest, managing director of the American Automobile Association, who arrived in Auckland a few days ago. Air. Brest stressed three points. The general opinion ol the American States was that it was hotter (o prevent accidents than to punish offenders. That was education rather Ilian prosecution. Applicants for driving licenses had to undergo a I airly severe test, while in regard to motorists intoxicated in charge of a car, American associations were determined to root out this evil.

One practice lie recommended was the establishment of what were called traffic violation schools. An offender might lie Sentenced to attend a course at one ol these instead of being fined a relatively small sum. The lesson ol.the school was remembered long after a tine would have been forgotten. The schools were run by Ihe l’oiicr Department, and at them was taught the need for Sale driving anil an adherence to traffic laws.

Commenting on safe driving speeds he said that in some States the speed limit on open roads in which t-lie houses were 100 ft. apart was 40 miles an hour. That on the whole, was believed to be a little too slow.

Mr. Brest said it was not necessarily the fast speed that caused accidents. In oilier States- there was no speed limit and the only charge was that of reckless driving. This, of course, might be harsher in its application than the imposition of any speed limit. The tendency was rather to increase speed limits than to lower them.