TOLL Of DEATHS OH ROAD

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1934, Page 7

TOLL Of DEATHS OH ROAD

TRAFFIC BILL INTRODUCED MEASURES TO REDUCE TOTAL SPEED LIMITS RESTORATION CONTROL OF PEDESTRIANS British Official Wireless. Rec. 5.5 p.m. Rugby, March 29. Steps are proposed in the Road Traffic Bill published by the Government to reduce the appalling toll of deaths in road accidents. . Outstanding measures include the imposition of a 30 miles an hour speed limit in built-up areas (that is wherever there are houses and street lamps), tests for all new drivers, heavier penalties for driving offences, including liability to disqualification for one month on the first and three months on the second conviction, the grant of power to local authorities to propose pedestrian crossing places and to provide for fining any pedestrian breaking such regulations, the introduction of a new regulation requiring pedal cyclists to have a white painted patch on the rear mudguard, and an efficient reflector, and a regulation governing the use of horns and similar devices. The Road Traffic Bill coincides with the publication of the final official figures for 1933. In road accidents 7202 people were killed and 216,328 injured. These are the highest totals ever, recorded in Britain. The campaign for road safety, which is being conducted by the National Safety First Association, was opened to-day by the issue of a letter from the Duke of York, patron of the association. The letter in poster form is to appear on 30,000 hoardings and says: “Every day 600 citizens are killed or injured on British roads, mostly because of somebody’s thoughtlessness. To avoid accidents be courteous and alert. Give special consideration to the aged, the infirm and the very young. The highway code is the code of good road manners. Let us all loyally observe it and make the spirit of goodwill the keynote of our behaviour on the roads.”