GOOD RESULTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20668, 5 March 1937, Page 8

GOOD RESULTS

ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN MINISTER GRATIFIED By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, March 4 Gratification with the results of the road safety campaign was expressed by the Minister of Public Works and Transport to-day. The Minister said it was now possible to gauge the effect of the campaign which opened in July. There had been a marked decrease in the number of road accidents, but he was still concerned with the problem of the intoxicated driver. “He is a menace to the nation,” said Mr Semple, “and I will not rest until I have stamped him out.” The Minister said that the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act which became law at the end of July had laid down a general speed limit of 30 miles an hour in built-up areas, about the same time the effect of the publicity which had been carried out had been begun to be felt. The beginning of August could therefore be taken as the commencement of the safety campaign, and it was interesting to compare the 1936 road death figures up to that date with the subsequent figures. Average Death Rate “During the seven months up to July 31, an average of 21 persons a month were killed on the roads in New Zealand. This represents a rate of 247 a year,” stated the Minister. “From that date till the end of the year the average was just over 12 a month or 146 a year. The saving in lives during those five months can be estimated at the rate of 101 a year, which means that 42 lives were saved between July and December last as a result of the safety campaign. During the whole of 1936 there were 205 deaths resulting from road accidents. The figures for the two holiday months of December and January are now available, except that several critically injured persons who figured- in accidents during January are not yet out of danger. During those two months 36 persons were killed —20 in December and 16 in January. During the same two months of 1935 42 were killed. If allowance is made for the increase of 13 per cent, in the number of vehicles on the road this represents a saving of II lives during those two holiday months as compared with the previous year. Up to the present time the reports of inquest proceedings on 26 of the persons killed during December and January have been received. From these reports the disquieting fact emerges that intoxicating liquor featured in the loss of 11 or those 26 lives. Warning to Motor-Cyclists “It is necessary to issue a particular warning to motor-cyclists. Although the total of all traffic deaths has been substantially reduced during the last few months, the death-rate amongst motor-cyclists remained constant at four a month. Motor-cycles comprise only about one-tenth of the motor vehicles in use, but during the last seven years they have been involved in nearly a quarter of all the fatal road accidents. The Government is doing its best to make the roads safe for all users. Its programme is now fairly well under operation, and a considerable improvement is already apparent. Other avenues are being explored, and as opportunity offers any further measures thought to be necessary will be introduced. Against some forms of carelessness the Government can and will take corrective steps, but there are many forms of carelessness that no Government can do much about. They rest entirely with the individuals themselves. The need for the utmost care is always constant, and its exercise is certain to get results.”