THE ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21211, 5 December 1938, Page 6

THE ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN

One moment’s serious reflection will convince every normally-minded citizen of New Zealand of the importance and timeliness of the road safety campaign inaugurated last night by the Minister of Transport, with an outspoken message to the people. The tragic loss of life, and the ever-mounting casualty list that represents the toll New Zealand, along with other countries, is paying as the price of the increasing motor-mindedness of the people, ought to suggest to every motorist, every user of any description of wheeled vehicle and every pedestrian, that upon the individual rests the greatest measure of responsibility. Within the next few weeks, the highways from end to end of New Zealand will be literally thronged with motor traffic of all descriptions. It is the realisation then, that unless the most scrupulous care is exercised the motor will take a heavy toll ip human life and will inflict more or less serious injuries upon hundreds of others, in what has come to be regarded as the festive season of the year, that has prompted the Minister of Transport, assisted by the officials of the Transport Department, and Automobile Associations and local governing bodies throughout New Zealand, to co-operate in a Dominion-wide road safety campaign. The mere thought that valuable lives will be sacrified on the roads during the coming holiday season ought to suggest to every motorist that risks of accident can be substantially minimised if the rules of the road are observed and the common courtesies of travel extended and reciprocated, but it should be made increasingly clear, that users of the roads who persistently offend will be most severely dealt with. The motorist who is a menace to the safety of others should be driven off the highways of the Dominion.